NC steering kick and car pulls off road

[eastla]

Some may remember my wheel alignment issues earlier this year.

My car is now tracking 100% straight after a very good alignment.
I have noticed another thing though.

If I am traveling along road and let go of steering wheel.
As I go over bumps the car steering wheel kicks slightly left; approx 2cm and then stays there and the car will pull left off the road after that.

My suspension guy seems to think it may be something with the steering rack?
But said it is not really a big enough problem to worry about.

The car has 10K on it and besides the Tein SS coils and the whiteline sways is stock.

[Charlie Brown]

What's your castor?

It should be 6.0 - 6.3.

A higher number will make it centre itself easier but if you already are running about those numbers take it back to Mazda and get them to check the rack etc.

[eastla]

I am not 100 percent sure of caster.
I asked them to pretty much give max...

My worry is that if I take car to Mazda they will say it is because you lowered it with NON genuine Mazda parts etc. that has caused steering rack problem.

[bruce]

Well, it could be caused by the mods.

[tank]

Does your car pull to the left on all different roads? Lots of roads have mild camber to aid water drainage ie roads are usually not perfectly flat.

Its normal for cars (especially ones with wide tyres) not to track perfectly straight due to the road camber. And usually the car will pull to the left.

Try putting the left front tyre to the right and vice versa. Sometimes that helps reduce the problem.

Otherwise, just reinstall your OEM Mazda shocks and springs, and send it back to the dealer for a check. Dealers will blame anything non-OEM to get out of fixing your car.

[eastla]

Does your car pull to the left on all different roads? Lots of roads have mild camber to aid water drainage ie roads are usually not perfectly flat.

Its normal for cars (especially ones with wide tyres) not to track perfectly straight due to the road camber. And usually the car will pull to the left.

Try putting the left front tyre to the right and vice versa. Sometimes that helps reduce the problem.

Otherwise, just reinstall your OEM Mazda shocks and springs, and send it back to the dealer for a check. Dealers will blame anything non-OEM to get out of fixing your car.

On smooth road; it goes straight.
Only on bumps does the car get upset and then vere left.

Installing OEM shocks/springs is an expensive exercise:(

[Charlie Brown]

Don't worry about the dealer and your lower suspension. I've never had a problem with them and they know I track the car.
After all Mazdaspeed springs lower the car and that's a "Mazda" fitted product O/S.
What's too loose? Even if they can identify the problem and refuse to fix it atleast you will know what's wrong and can then get it done yourself.
It might be something really simple like a bush somewhere thats cracked and binding.

[rjastra2]

Are you sure the toe-in is correct front/rear?

[JBT]

Very abnormal and I doubt it has anythingh to do with the steering rack. A rack problem would play out under all conditions I should think. Check sway bar links, mounts and bushes?

[eastla]

Are you sure the toe-in is correct front/rear?

Yes Toe settings are fine.
I have had 4 wheel alignments and the last one was an excellent one.

[eastla]

Don't worry about the dealer and your lower suspension. I've never had a problem with them and they know I track the car.
After all Mazdaspeed springs lower the car and that's a "Mazda" fitted product O/S.
What's too loose? Even if they can identify the problem and refuse to fix it atleast you will know what's wrong and can then get it done yourself.
It might be something really simple like a bush somewhere thats cracked and binding.

I took my car into Mazda yesterday to get it checked.
They could not find anything obvious with it.
Said that it is probably just a bit of bump steer, and that if my car was raised back to normal ride height I would probably not get this problem.

If it is bump steer why would I only get it predominantly one direction?

Also, I was chatting to the mechanic about Mazda warranty on such issues, with modified cars.
He told me that Mazda are generally very good with modified cars.
As long as the parts are good quality, and nothing stupid has been done they will cover the problems.

Only thing he can remember getting rejected is an RX8 with 20 inch rims and dropped on its guts blew the engine.
Reason Mazda did not pay up, is because the fool was driving with no air filter ;)

[@ndrew]

Don't worry about the dealer and your lower suspension. I've never had a problem with them and they know I track the car.
After all Mazdaspeed springs lower the car and that's a "Mazda" fitted product O/S.
What's too loose? Even if they can identify the problem and refuse to fix it atleast you will know what's wrong and can then get it done yourself.
It might be something really simple like a bush somewhere thats cracked and binding.

I took my car into Mazda yesterday to get it checked.
They could not find anything obvious with it.
Said that it is probably just a bit of bump steer, and that if my car was raised back to normal ride height I would probably not get this problem.

If it is bump steer why would I only get it predominantly one direction?

Also, I was chatting to the mechanic about Mazda warranty on such issues, with modified cars.
He told me that Mazda are generally very good with modified cars.
As long as the parts are good quality, and nothing stupid has been done they will cover the problems.

Only thing he can remember getting rejected is an RX8 with 20 inch rims and dropped on its guts blew the engine.
Reason Mazda did not pay up, is because the fool was driving with no air filter ;)

Well that's good to hear, which dealer was it?

[eastla]

Well that's good to hear, which dealer was it?

Not sure of the exact name, but it is in Dandenong, on Princess Hwy just behind Suzuki dealer.