Unstable steering

RODDAS

MEMBER
2006 JEEP LIBERTY
3.7L
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
100,500 MILES

Hi,

While cruising at speed, if I take my foot off gas, car steers itself a bit to the left. If I depress gas, it steers itself to the right. Any ideas what could be causing this? I have already changed the power steering pump, fluid and hoses. Vehicle listed above is a Sport model. Thanks.

4 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Sounds like the mounts for the steering rack are loose or the rack itself as too much play in it.

We need to check this by laying on the ground and having someone turn the wheel from lock to lock and make sure the rack does not move at all. If it seems to rock or move at all then the mounts are faulty.

If not then we need to check the tie rods and make sure they are not loose. You do this by lifting the wheel off the ground and holding it at 3 and 9 o'clock and push in and out opposite sides.

Here is a guide that will help with replacing tie rods if this is what it turns out to be:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/tie-rod-end-replacement

Below is the info on how to replace the rack that will show the detail on how to replace it and location to look when checking it.

Let us know what questions you have. Thanks

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Monday, June 14th, 2021 AT 6:57 PM

RODDAS

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thanks for the reply. I checked the tie rods as you suggested and there is no movement in the wheels. I also checked the steering rack and there is only a slight (1/16 inch) movement at full lock to the right. Is this within the limits of normal?

While checking, I noticed the boots on all 4 ball joints were torn and shredded. Could faulty ball joints cause this problem? I also noticed the sway bar linkages looked odd (see picture). Should the bolts be straight (parallel to the ground) and could this be the cause?

Thanks again!

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Wednesday, June 16th, 2021 AT 4:49 PM

RODDAS

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Here is the picture:

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Wednesday, June 16th, 2021 AT 4:50 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Yes. To all. Clearly it is hard to say 100% that this is going to solve the issue but that is not correct and they are worn out and they will cause this. This means we need to replace each of these and retest.

I attached the info on replacing these. Please let us know how you make out with this.

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