Steering doesn't return to center.

[Tervuren]

My '86 had an issue where after some form of "clunking" feel, the steering would feel really stiff, and I'd have to get the car to go straight by hand, rather than it finding the path of least resistance(straight) on its own like it normally does. Sometimes when driving, it would feel normal, but eventually, this state became permanent.

I had several other suspension issues, and some forum searches turned up that sometimes the steering rack can shift over on old bushings, causing it not to feel right, so when rebuilding the front suspension, I did the steering rack bushings.

With new inner and out wheel bearings, new polyurethane bushings control arm bushings, new ball joints, new strut inserts, and an alignment, the car rolls and feels great, used to have huge vibration in the steering wheel, and lots of road noise, that is all gone.....but, even after the alignment, the heavy steering, and resistance to centering is still there.

I do not understand how power steering works, so no clue on that side if it could provide resistance to motion if something wasn't right. When up in the air, the steering doesn't feel bound up. The steering is quiet, no noise from it.

If its not power steering related, could it be my strut bearings? Under the weight of the car, could they be "freezing", and that is what is making the wheels not want to rotate? I cannot wait to have it feeling right, if anyone has any insight, help would be appreciated.

[Slam]

It could be the upper bearings, but my money's on the steering intermediate shaft U-joint(s) being stuffed. The rack is a possibility, too, but they seem to develop slop instead of binding.

[9FF]

Caster has a huge effect on self centering of your steering even if its off a touch. What is your caster angle like on the alignment sheet? Your top strut mount if worn will affect caster angle.

[Chucked]

It could be the power steering flow is being restricted by a clogged filter at the bottom of the PS reservoir. This is a permanent filter in the reservoir and over time it deteriorates and restricts flow. I had similar symptoms to yours and replacing the reservoir and putting in fresh PS fluid fixed it.

[flash968]

especially if you had a power steering leak, it would be easy to have a bad steering rack bushing, which would allow the rack to "float" and result in the wheel not being centered, even though the car might drive straight.

if the car doesn't drive straight, then i would be looking elsewhere.

[89-944NA]

When you turn the wheel, does it feel like it's indexed? Kind of a notched feeling? If so, I check the steering rack again...that's what mine felt like when the rack went bad.

Also, just a stiff feeling could be the power steering pump has failed.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by Chucked

It could be the power steering flow is being restricted by a clogged filter at the bottom of the PS reservoir. This is a permanent filter in the reservoir and over time it deteriorates and restricts flow. I had similar symptoms to yours and replacing the reservoir and putting in fresh PS fluid fixed it.

It feels like the steering is mired in quicksand, keeping it from self centering, bumps are not felt, and it's heavy to turn the wheel back to center, or to turn in a new direction. This may be the problem if a clog can turn the power steering into a resistor rather than assisting.

Flash, no play in the system. With tiny steering wheel movements I can see my wheels move out the window.

[968 GUY]

Can you set it up on jack stands at the a a-arms so you still have pressure at the strut bearings. You may be able to tell if there is a problem with them.

[Tervuren]

Well, I missed the part about doing 20-30 turns of the wheel both with the car off, and car on, when it came to bleeding the system. I'd disconnected a line when replacing the steering rack bushings, and I guess I still had air in the system. I never saw my fluid going down when I had someone turning the wheel, so I thought I was ok.

I put the car up this morning, and wanted to listen/feel steering the wheel back and forth, had someone go back and forth while I walked around. My right strut mount is noisey, and doesn't move smoothly, so I believe I will still find myself replacing the strut bearings down the road, probably when its time for brakes. For now though, my steering is acting fine.

968 GUY, thats a good idea, I was going to follow Chucked's advice first, as its something that the car could probably use anyway someday, then if that didn't solve it, I'd try to find a way to rest it on the A-arms.