Front end noise and steering problems

Tiny
HAYNAY
  • MEMBER
  • TOYOTA CAMRY
We have a 1999 Camry 4 cyl with 185000 miles manual transmission. We have had the struts replaced twice on the front in the last two to three years due to a clunking noise or rattling sound when going over bumps, dips in the road, etc. Just had it to the dealer because of continued noise and they suggested changing the strut mounts. I changed the mounts and now the car pulls to the right or left. If you make a hard turn to the left, when you straighten out it continues to pull to the left and vise versa on the right. I just had new tires put on a couple of days before I changed the strut mounts. I had the car aligned after the pulling problem started and it was not out much and is still pulling. I have to hold the steering wheel tight to keep it from roaming off the road in either direction. I also noticed that there seemed to be a "catch" in the steering before I did any of the mount work. I don't see where anything I did with replacing the strut mounts could have caused the steering problem? I am thinking rack and pinion or possible CV joints? Any thoughts?
Tuesday, February 6th, 2007 AT 12:22 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Clarification:

Hold tight to the steering wheel?

Do you have to over compensate for the movement, or are you just holding it straight with no compensation?
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Friday, December 11th, 2020 AT 12:49 PM
Tiny
HAYNAY
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  • 2 POSTS
What I mean by that is you have to hold it straight or it will vere off to the right or left depending on the last tight turn that was made. It wants to steer in its own direction.
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Friday, December 11th, 2020 AT 12:49 PM
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
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Definitly not cv joints. What you're describing is called memory steer if I understand you correctly. Something is binding and not allowing the steering components to come back after a turn.

If the dealer is your chioice of repair facilities, you need to talk to the service manager and have him take it for a ride with you, since this problem wasn't there before and they suggested it, they should hold a little repsonsibility on this. The mounts should have had the strut bearings with it when they changed it, but sounds like they may have reused the old ones and disturbed they way they were.
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Friday, December 11th, 2020 AT 12:49 PM

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