Bump steer question

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BWDart

BWDart

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Took my 72 Dart for a drive,1st time in 4yrs, it's got some serious bump steer got it up on jack stands with tires off what do I look for?
Thanks
 
BWDart said:
Took my 72 Dart for a drive,1st time in 4yrs, it's got some serious bump steer got it up on jack stands with tires off what do I look for?
Thanks
Click to expand...


Change in toe over the suspension travel. What spindles are on it?
 
Check all steering linkages, tie rod ends, pitman, and idler for looseness/wear. If you have radial tires you may want to just take it in for an alignment. And use the skosh chart not the factory specs. With all stock steering components you might have a little bump steer but not enough to cause any significant problem or be noticeable.

Following the SKOSH chart - your experiences?
 
Were the tires off the ground while it was stored?
 
TT5.9mag said:
Check all steering linkages, tie rod ends, pitman, and idler for looseness/wear. If you have radial tires you may want to just take it in for an alignment. And use the skosh chart not the factory specs. With all stock steering components you might have a little bump steer but not enough to cause any significant problem or be noticeable.

Following the SKOSH chart - your experiences?
Click to expand...
Ok thanks
 
Is this a problem the car had before it sat for 4 years?
 
Grab the centerlink right next to where the idler bolt is. Then see if you can move it up and down.

If it's moving pivoting at the k-member/frame or moving up and down at the ball joint, it's bad.

The toe change or squirming or looseness you are feeling is something worn out.
 
autoxcuda said:
Grab the centerlink right next to where the idler bolt is. Then see if you can move it up and down.

If it's moving pivoting at the k-member/frame or moving up and down at the ball joint, it's bad.

The toe change or squirming or looseness you are feeling is something worn out.
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Thanks I'll get on it this morning and check that also forgot to mention when I took a left at the corner I heard a clunk
 
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TT5.9mag said:
Check all steering linkages, tie rod ends, pitman, and idler for looseness/wear. If you have radial tires you may want to just take it in for an alignment. And use the skosh chart not the factory specs. With all stock steering components you might have a little bump steer but not enough to cause any significant problem or be noticeable.
Forgot to mention that when I took a left turn at intersection I heard a clunk
Following the SKOSH chart - your experiences?
Click to expand...
 
BWDart said:
Not as bad heard a clunk when I took a left turn to get on highway
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Have you changed anything in the last 4 years while the car was sitting?

What I’m getting at is that bump steer doesn’t just appear. It has to come from a change. Like a change in ride height, alignment, or something that has worn out or broken.

And typically, the bump steer on these cars is relatively small. So I would make sure that you inspect everything in the steering and suspension for wear and damage. TT5.9mag provided a pretty good list of the usual suspects.
 
Is the front end excessively lowered or raised? Is the rear? Other than that check EVERY moving part for play, breakage, damage. Rusted, cracked frame or parts. I advise you to get a friend to help. Have him move and wiggle the steering wheel in various ways left to right. Look at every moving part starting at the column. Look at the column and steering coupler and look for play. Then look at the coupler and the steering box shaft. Then look at the coupler and the pitman shaft. Look not only for play between the two, but movement of the pitman shaft up/ down and side to side. Look at the pitman arm and the ball into the center line and look for play there. And so on. Each piece, each tie rod end

GO TO MyMopar and download a free service manual. READ the front end and steering sections on how to check ball joints. You must support the lower arms to check the balls to relieve weight from them.
Check wheel bearing adjustment.

Do this systematically and carefully and take lots of time. If proper alignment does not pan out, try a different set of tires.

AND DO NOT FORGET that REAR suspension problems can "fool" you into a front end problem
 
67Dart273 said:
Is the front end excessively lowered or raised? Is the rear? Other than that check EVERY moving part for play, breakage, damage. Rusted, cracked frame or parts. I advise you to get a friend to help. Have him move and wiggle the steering wheel in various ways left to right. Look at every moving part starting at the column. Look at the column and steering coupler and look for play. Then look at the coupler and the steering box shaft. Then look at the coupler and the pitman shaft. Look not only for play between the two, but movement of the pitman shaft up/ down and side to side. Look at the pitman arm and the ball into the center line and look for play there. And so on. Each piece, each tie rod end

GO TO MyMopar and download a free service manual. READ the front end and steering sections on how to check ball joints. You must support the lower arms to check the balls to relieve weight from them.
Check wheel bearing adjustment.

Do this systematically and carefully and take lots of time. If proper alignment does not pan out, try a different set of tires.

AND DO NOT FORGET that REAR suspension problems can "fool" you into a front end problem
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tips
Found out steering box is shot shaft moves up n down and side to side when moving wheel back n forth
I do need to raise front end have it lowered for stance checked all joints they are all tight gonna move on to ball joints then wheel bearings, found the clunk exhaust is hitting the link real close to idler
What should I look for at the rear?
 
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72bluNblu said:
Have you changed anything in the last 4 years while the car was sitting?

What I’m getting at is that bump steer doesn’t just appear. It has to come from a change. Like a change in ride height, alignment, or something that has worn out or broken.

And typically, the bump steer on these cars is relatively small. So I would make sure that you inspect everything in the steering and suspension for wear and damage. TT5.9mag provided a pretty good list of the usual suspects.
Click to expand...
I do remember having it aligned back in 05 but it was worse after the alignment guy said he couldn't fix it then I moved
Found out today box is shot has up n down and side to side movement when turning wheel back n forth, found the clunk exhaust pipe is hitting link
 
A worn box will certainly cause some sketchy driving scenarios and make the car wander around but it will not cause bump steer.
 
BWDart said:
I do remember having it aligned back in 05 but it was worse after the alignment guy said he couldn't fix it then I moved
Found out today box is shot has up n down and side to side movement when turning wheel back n forth, found the clunk exhaust pipe is hitting link
Click to expand...

Is it hitting passenger side or drivers side.

if passenger side could be bad idler arm. That would cause the wandering condition you are feeling too.

also check for bad motor mounts. That will cause the engine to drop and make the exhaust head pipe hit the suspension

also check if the bolts that hold the steering gear to the K-member are loose.
 
TT5.9mag said:
A worn box will certainly cause some sketchy driving scenarios and make the car wander around but it will not cause bump steer.
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I think it’s just wandering and loose like you said. And when he hits a bump it loads and unloads the suspension, the worn joint/bushings moves around, then causes it to wander in one direction and back as it moves around inside the bad joint/bushing.

People use that term “bump steer” to describe most worn suspension driving conditions.
 
autoxcuda said:
I think it’s wandering and loose. And when he hits a bump it loads and unloads the suspension, the worn joint moves around then causes it to wander in one direction.


People use that term “bump steer” to describe most worn suspension driving conditions.

.
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Completely agree.
 
Difference in shock rates can feel like bump steer. That’s why we always replace them in pairs. And, something that can change while sitting for 4 years.
 
My point is always back up what you say with substance. If you think its got bump steer, that's fine. Get the tool, learn how to measure and prove or disprove your statements.
 
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