Steering Won't Return to Center

[GrossMan]

Just had my local garage replace my LBJ and lower control arms and perform the obligatory alignment on my completely stock '98. My usual guy is on vacay this week so they had a new guy do the work.....bad idea.

Now the steering will not return to center after a turn. It is so bad that I can turn the steering wheel to any angle (mild or severe) and it will just stay there until I manually return it to center. I just spent several minutes in an empty parking lot testing the steering. The truck just runs in circles, left or right, with the tires squealing fairly loudly.

I'm guessing the new guy f&#!@* up the alignment since old posts I found mention caster being off in cases where the T4R is slow to return to center.... but this seems extreme. I'm taking it back to the shop tomorrow but want to be prepared to tell them what to look for if the new guy is working again.

Any hints, tips, suggestions very much appreciated.

Grossman

 

[nevada]

Just had my local garage replace my LBJ and lower control arms and perform the obligatory alignment on my completely stock '98. My usual guy is on vacay this week so they had a new guy do the work.....bad idea.

Now the steering will not return to center after a turn. It is so bad that I can turn the steering wheel to any angle (mild or severe) and it will just stay there until I manually return it to center. I just spent several minutes in an empty parking lot testing the steering. The truck just runs in circles, left or right, with the tires squealing fairly loudly.

I'm guessing the new guy f&#!@* up the alignment since old posts I found mention caster being off in cases where the T4R is slow to return to center.... but this seems extreme. I'm taking it back to the shop tomorrow but want to be prepared to tell them what to look for if the new guy is working again.

Any hints, tips, suggestions very much appreciated.

Grossman

id say you're on the right track.
have it checked, likely the caster is very low.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

The ball joint may be too tight. Or toe is off.

Getting a wheel alignment or take it back to them cause acting like that his repair job isn't over yet. Its like he didn't test drive it after replacing it.

 

[TXRick]

Yeah, probably misaligned but you might want to loosen your rack guide a little.

 

[loowiloowi]

True that the caster is possible culprit but the tech would have had to set both sides to negative caster for the problem you mention to occur [will turn right or left and not return to center]. Is that ALL the work that was performed? Was any work done on the Rack & Pinion eg outer tie rod ends? Frame to rack bushings? Springs? Why were the lower control arms replaced?-- bent from and accident??? --- That or letting the control arm bushings get so bad that they wallow out the hole they press into is the only reason to replace them on a stock vehicle. I suppose if the ball joints were loose in the controll arm the ball joint stud holes could get damaged and require the arms to need replacement. In any case the technician should have noticed any unusual issues and brough it to the attention of the manager or service writer so you could be notified.... Yes go back to have the work rechecked....

 

[flyinbrick]

Yeah, probably misaligned but you might want to loosen your rack guide a little.

If it was fine before and the rack guide wasn't touched, I wouldn't mess with it before getting the alignment checked.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

I read in another post about one of the brands of ball joints not moving to when brand new causing this same problem. That forum member did post about a week later stating the problem cleared up. Can't remember the brand. He posted pics were he removed the boot and there were little scratches on the ball like someone took an awl and went to town. I was thinking that I wouldn't want to keep those LBJs on my rig. I would definitely get OEM lower LBJs and NOTHING else. I just spent $87 a piece on Toyota Motor Parts - Genuine OEM Parts at Low Prices