Steering wheel feels loose then tight and loose again.. Whats wrong?

D

Dracula

Premium Member
Premium
Location
Hollywood, CA
Car
2004 FX35 RWD
Name
Andy
As the title says, sometimes i start the car and the steering feels really lose and at times i start the car and the steering is tight or heavy ( i want it to stay tight). Also when i press the brakes and move the steering around it gets tighter than becomes loose agaIn.
note- ive tiightened the steering rack bolt
 
What speed?

What speed does it feel loose and tight? The speed sensitive steering is meant to be loose at low speeds and tighten up at high speeds. Not sure if your just seeing the natural way the system works.
 
Sounds like the power steering system; check the steering fluid, power steering pump, belts, pressure valve, hoses, etc.. If not, then tie rods, idler arm and other suspension pieces. Good luck.
 
a dirty fluid would cause this?
power steering fluid levels are fine.. my concern is that maybe my rear busted bearings are causing this.. i checked my tires- no movement..
 
Hey guys i checked my front steering components yesterday and i found that there is little movement on the driver side 9and 3 clock isnt that normal though? 12 and 6 was fine.. While inspecting i found that i can twist the outer tie rods while the wheel was off the ground, is this the normal function of that part? and it wasnt twisting easliy, only with force and power..
 
Might be steering rack wear or damage. Did this problem start soon after adusting the rack tension adjuster in. When you adjusted it in did the steering wheel come back to center while turning if you let go of the wheel? If not you may have over tightened it and caused some damage to the steering gear or rack.
 
the looseness started after the steering rack adjustment, and sometimes when i brake i hear this loud grind, maybe your right but i was getting a wobble before the rack adjustment.. the steering wheel does come to the center..

MTN FX said:
Might be steering rack wear or damage. Did this problem start soon after adusting the rack tension adjuster in. When you adjusted it in did the steering wheel come back to center while turning if you let go of the wheel? If not you may have over tightened it and caused some damage to the steering gear or rack.
Click to expand...
 
Dracula said:
the looseness started after the steering rack adjustment, and sometimes when i brake i hear this loud grind, maybe your right but i was getting a wobble before the rack adjustment.. the steering wheel does come to the center..
Click to expand...
Not sure you may have a couple of things going on If you take it in for an allignment they could inspect it and possibly identify any issues you may have
 
dealer aligned twice without any problems, ive noticed when i put my Ac on, the steering becomes loose, is this normal?
 
WOW!! For a week my car's steering was real tight in a good way, not pump failure tight.. Yesterday felt loose again, and now tight again. LMAO im lost!
 
Hi! I know this thread was posted ages ago (fingers crossed and hope people still read this*), but I am having the EXACT same issue and I have been searching all over web for an answer, I would really like to know what was causing it?
 
can you describe what is happening and on what speed

---------- Post added at 09:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 AM ----------

Hi, If you have a sound when you spin your steering wheel then its the pump going to die soon
 
Hi, the symptoms are exactly like the first thread stated, the car's steering feel is very inconsistent, this can happen while stationary or while driving. The steering wheel will go from the original tight and firm feel to loose, soft and sloppy, back and forth. The steering wheel can be completely normal for a few days, and start going loose again or it can happen back and forth within a single trip. I have been to a few steering/suspension specialists and they think everything is fine. But I drive the car everyday and I know for a fact that it is not normal. The difference between when the steering is normal and when its playing up is night and day. Very annoying issue for me because I am a very handling experience oriented driver and I dont want to start dumping money into it by replacing all these suspension parts that MIGHT be causing the issue. I really want to pin point the exact problem and fix it.
 
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