Steering issues - steering too light

[osandland]

Hey all, the steering on my Y60 is extremely light. It's so light that you could steer it with your nose....
This is really annoying when driving on highways. The car just had a 4-wheel alignment done, but it's still this way.
It feels like the steering servo is on steroids.

Any advice is most appreciated.

[MudRunnerTD]

How high is the lift on it?

Either it needs Caster correction or a little Toe In to fix it. If the wheel aligned set it with a neutral Toe then it will be hard to keep it straight as it will want to wander wherever.

If it has a big lift and no caster correction then it's standing on its toes so to speak and steers fast and often.

[mudnut]

Also check that the rear of the vehicle sets level with or a little but higher than the nose.

[osandland]

The lift kit is an OME 976 2". Below are the numbers from the 4-wheel alignment done at the garage last week. I'm not entirely sure how to read the document, but the general car handling improved quite a bit after the adjustment.

Front axle
Caster was left untouched (left: 1°24', right: 1°18'). According to this doc, specifications says min 2°20' and max 3°20
Camber was also left untouched (left: 0°30', right: 0°06'). Specs min 0°00', max 1°00'
Toe was adjusted from total: 1°18', left: 0°33', right: 0°45' to total: 0°24', left: 0°12', right: 0°12'
SAI (not sure what this is) seems untouched at left: 7°33', right: 7°42'
"Included angle" (not sure what this is... and it's translated by me , seems untouched as well - left: 8°03', right: 7°48'

Rear axle
Camber was untouched at left: -0°12', right: -0°06'
Toe was adjusted from total: 1°30', left: 0°54', right: 0°36' to total 1°33', left: 0°54', right: 0°39'
Thrust angle adjusted from 0°09' to 0°08'

Any thoughts on these numbers?

I also wonder if it could be slightly sagging on the rear right spring, so I will take the car to a level pad and measure the distance from wheelhub center to wheel arches. Unless there is a better method of checking whether it sets level.

Thanks!

[sprdad]

I have a 1991 Safari and thought there were no adjustments that could be made apart from tow in/out on front axle. Rear diff is limited slip. Am I wrong? I have never had any alignment work done over last 13 years for obvious reasons but have just put four new tires on so want to do anything I can to minimize wear.
Lee

[MudRunnerTD]

yeah i am not sure how he made adjustments on the rear axle either?? Odd.I am not aware of any adjustment for Toe or Camber available on the rear axle of a GQ or a GU.

Not sure what the "Thrust" angle is either? how did he adjust that?

ON the front of a GQ there is No Camber adjustment available and the only Caster correction available would involve new Caster Correction bushes in the front radius arms.

Toe in and out is the only adjustment on a factory tie rod.

[MudRunnerTD]

IO'd say you need some caster correction bushes for a 2d correction, this will take the flighty out of the steering and calm it down a little

[lhurley]

It will be the alignment setup or the castor.

If the alignment is set to slight toe IN, it will turn well but not track as straight, where as slight toe OUT, will track straight but be lazy to turn.

[Alitis007]

It will be the alignment setup or the castor. If the alignment is set to slight toe IN, it will turn well but not track as straight, where as slight toe OUT, will track straight but be lazy to turn.

On the front of Rear wheel driven cars the wheels are set to toe in so the front wheel flick out when the car is driving forwards, on front wheel driven cars the front wheels are set to toe out so the wheels flick in when you drive forwards. Does that make sense ??