Need some advice on windshield replacement, steering problem

lovemyp-car · 10-17-2009, 09:16 PM

hey guys, been a while! Car's coming along, got a couple coats of paint on it, still need to wetsand and buff, or lay a couple more and then wetsand and buff, haven't decided.

ran into a couple of problems:
first, i caught a rock on route 50 and it cracked my windshield. Processed it through state farm and they're going to cover it...now i just need to find a good place to do it, anybody got any suggestions?

second, i've developed a pretty severe steering problem...it all started when one of the control arm bolt retaining nuts (the bolts that go through the back frame mounting point) stripped out, allowing my right control arm to loosen and almost drop off. Let me tell you, that scared the crap out of me when i found it...but that is fixed.

I took the car in for an alignment right after that, because i figured the twisting of the control arm just knocked the toe out and that's why the car was wandering and the steering felt slushy. Well, the toe was out, so my mechanic aligned the front end for me, but it didn't help with the slushy feel and the wheel that won't straighten...let me explain that last part.

-when i take a left hand corner, the steering doesn't seem to really catch until i've turned the wheel about 45 degrees to the left, after the turn, when the car returns to a straight line, the steering wheel remains at about a 30-45 degree angle to the left. I can then jiggle the wheel back and forth towards the right, until the wheel is in the center, without moving the car much at all. The same happens on right turns, but to less of a degree...all the while the car seems to be pulling a little left-

i'll be honest, this is scaring me a little, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

just to clarify:
-the power steering rack has the pump and lines removed and the rack has been plugged, but it could be empty...possible cause?
-the front ball joints are brand new as of last summer, they were replaced with rennbay's upgrade kit (bronze bushings or whatever it is)
-the car was aligned thursday, but the alignment didn't help with the above problems much
-i have no funny noises or anything peculiar to tip me off towards any specific problem, only the bothering change in drivability

Thanks guys!
Ethan

ilikemy944 · 10-17-2009, 09:53 PM

How are the rack mount bushings? Could be the rack moving.

Van · 10-17-2009, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilikemy944

How are the rack mount bushings? Could be the rack moving.

My guess, too.

lovemyp-car · 10-18-2009, 02:51 AM

definitely something to check! thanks for the suggestion, it's cheap enough i might as well by a couple and replace them...

any other possibilities? just trying to cover most of the bases...
Thanks!

PorscheDude1 · 10-18-2009, 12:33 PM

Ethan,
how you been dude???

I just had a new windshield installed on my 951 Friday.
I had Safelite do it. They came to my house and installed the proper Sekruit windshield.

Geico picked up the tab.

I could not be more satisfied with Safelite.

lovemyp-car · 10-18-2009, 12:49 PM

Safelite huh...i'll look them up, thanks Pat!

I've been great man, how've you been? i'm going to college up where i went to high school, probably just going for one year to get basic courses out of the way and take a bunch of math (calculus!!!!!!gaaaaah!!!). It's been a ball so far.
I've come up with a plan to go back to the stock hood also, which will entail some more intake tubing, an electric remote water pump, and doing some interesting things with the headlights...you'll probably be seeing me at a fun run or two in the spring!

10-17-2009, 09:16 PM	#1
lovemyp-car Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bowie, Maryland Posts: 841	Need some advice on windshield replacement, steering problem hey guys, been a while! Car's coming along, got a couple coats of paint on it, still need to wetsand and buff, or lay a couple more and then wetsand and buff, haven't decided. ran into a couple of problems: first, i caught a rock on route 50 and it cracked my windshield. Processed it through state farm and they're going to cover it...now i just need to find a good place to do it, anybody got any suggestions? second, i've developed a pretty severe steering problem...it all started when one of the control arm bolt retaining nuts (the bolts that go through the back frame mounting point) stripped out, allowing my right control arm to loosen and almost drop off. Let me tell you, that scared the crap out of me when i found it...but that is fixed. I took the car in for an alignment right after that, because i figured the twisting of the control arm just knocked the toe out and that's why the car was wandering and the steering felt slushy. Well, the toe was out, so my mechanic aligned the front end for me, but it didn't help with the slushy feel and the wheel that won't straighten...let me explain that last part. -when i take a left hand corner, the steering doesn't seem to really catch until i've turned the wheel about 45 degrees to the left, after the turn, when the car returns to a straight line, the steering wheel remains at about a 30-45 degree angle to the left. I can then jiggle the wheel back and forth towards the right, until the wheel is in the center, without moving the car much at all. The same happens on right turns, but to less of a degree...all the while the car seems to be pulling a little left- i'll be honest, this is scaring me a little, so any help would be greatly appreciated. just to clarify: -the power steering rack has the pump and lines removed and the rack has been plugged, but it could be empty...possible cause? -the front ball joints are brand new as of last summer, they were replaced with rennbay's upgrade kit (bronze bushings or whatever it is) -the car was aligned thursday, but the alignment didn't help with the above problems much -i have no funny noises or anything peculiar to tip me off towards any specific problem, only the bothering change in drivability Thanks guys! Ethan __________________ Ethan Cooper (19) 1987 Porsche 948 - 1997 LT1 with dual 58mm BBK Throttle Body and fully ported intake manifold, LT4 Hot Cam 1987 Porsche 924S - 149,000 miles - barn-sitting waiting for revival 1984 Porsche 944 - parts car 1984 Porsche 944 - sold

10-18-2009, 02:51 AM	#4
lovemyp-car Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bowie, Maryland Posts: 841	definitely something to check! thanks for the suggestion, it's cheap enough i might as well by a couple and replace them... any other possibilities? just trying to cover most of the bases... Thanks! __________________ Ethan Cooper (19) 1987 Porsche 948 - 1997 LT1 with dual 58mm BBK Throttle Body and fully ported intake manifold, LT4 Hot Cam 1987 Porsche 924S - 149,000 miles - barn-sitting waiting for revival 1984 Porsche 944 - parts car 1984 Porsche 944 - sold

10-18-2009, 12:33 PM	#5
PorscheDude1 On the Radar Rennlist Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bel Air, Md. Posts: 4,458	Ethan, how you been dude??? I just had a new windshield installed on my 951 Friday. I had Safelite do it. They came to my house and installed the proper Sekruit windshield. Geico picked up the tab. I could not be more satisfied with Safelite. __________________ 86 951 Blk/Blk, 968 Mirrors, Handles, Door Panels, Euro Fogs, LR 300 Kit, TS Sways. More to come... 95 E34 Touring Blk/Blk Full Leather, M5 Bumpers, Euro Trim, Euro Head Lights, RD Sways, RD Strut Brace, BBS RX, Future S52 Swap Project Sinister nearing completion SOLD 94 968 Polar Silver/Black, 6 speed, LSD, Kinesis K58's, Short Shift, Konis, M030 Swaybars, Design 1 Racing Upper and Lower Strut Bar, Air Box Mod, B&B Catback, RS Barn Chip, Big Reds

10-18-2009, 12:49 PM	#6
lovemyp-car Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bowie, Maryland Posts: 841	Safelite huh...i'll look them up, thanks Pat! I've been great man, how've you been? i'm going to college up where i went to high school, probably just going for one year to get basic courses out of the way and take a bunch of math (calculus!!!!!!gaaaaah!!!). It's been a ball so far. I've come up with a plan to go back to the stock hood also, which will entail some more intake tubing, an electric remote water pump, and doing some interesting things with the headlights...you'll probably be seeing me at a fun run or two in the spring! __________________ Ethan Cooper (19) 1987 Porsche 948 - 1997 LT1 with dual 58mm BBK Throttle Body and fully ported intake manifold, LT4 Hot Cam 1987 Porsche 924S - 149,000 miles - barn-sitting waiting for revival 1984 Porsche 944 - parts car 1984 Porsche 944 - sold

10-17-2009, 09:53 PM	#2
ilikemy944 Going with the pack is quite monotonous. Rennlist Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Johns Creek, GA Posts: 2,803	How are the rack mount bushings? Could be the rack moving.