Odd Handling Issue

About a month ago, we were going out to dinner, and as I slowed to make a U turn to the left I felt the Roadrunner pull hard to the left, kinda like the tire had just blown out. I came to a full stop, started moving forward, and the car pulled hard left again. I got the car straight and pulled into the parking lot where we were going. I got out and checked the tires and they were fine. All through dinner I was thinking about calling for a tow, but when we got into the parking lot the car was handing fine. It had rained earlier, and I thought maybe I had hit a slick of oily water or residue and one wheel had lost traction. We got back in after dinner and the car handled fine on the way home.

I've driven a couple hundred miles in different conditions since then.

Yesterday, we drove about 30 miles to an event, and there were no issues. It rained for about 20 minutes around 8:00, and we left at about 9:45. On the way home, at about 55 MPH, the car started gently pulling to the left, and when I went to correct it shot hard to the right, like one of the tires was pulling left and then stopped and went normal as I was putting in a right turn command. Then the car handled fine. A mile or so down the road it happened again, then there were no more issues for the next 23 miles or so.

I checked the car over this morning, and everything looks right. Took it out for a test drive and everything's working fine. So this has happened at 3-5 MPH, 55 MPH, and 50 MPH, on different roads, and the only commonality I can find is recent rain.

Sounds to me like that valve that sits on top of the steering unit.

Jeez that's a scary scenario, Im guessing you already inspected all suspension and steering components?

I replaced the upper and lower ball joints and tie rod ends last year, and the tires are almost new, about three months on them.

I'm wondering if it might/maybe/could be a failing bearing on the driver's side? The bearing locks up for a second and tightens up the wheel, and then whatever is getting in there works itself out and the wheel is free again.

Like bee71 is saying that valve can make the steering go goofy. How old is your steering box?

Like others have mentioned check the valve on top of the steering box. If the fluid has been in the system forever , I'd flush the p.s. and fill will new fluid. It could be there is some junk floating around and it gets stuck in the centering valve and breaks free only to get stuck again. Another thing to look at is the lca bushing. It might be broken in pieces but still held in due to metal sleeve. Same as above drive around hit just enough of a dipthe pieces are unloaded and are loose enough for that split second to give you weird steering feedback

Loose steering gear?

Ski 61701 said:

Like others have mentioned check the valve on top of the steering box. If the fluid has been in the system forever , I'd flush the p.s. and fill will new fluid. It could be there is some junk floating around and it gets stuck in the centering valve and breaks free only to get stuck again. Another thing to look at is the lca bushing. It might be broken in pieces but still held in due to metal sleeve. Same as above drive around hit just enough of a dipthe pieces are unloaded and are loose enough for that split second to give you weird steering feedback

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I drained the system when I swapped out the pumps about a year ago. It was a Saginaw and now it's Federal. Also added new lines. I was thinking it could be the box, but the problem is very intermittent. I would think if the box was going bad, it wouldn't work great 99.9% of the time. Generally when they go bad, they go bad and stay bad.

Bruzilla said:

I drained the system when I swapped out the pumps about a year ago. It was a Saginaw and now it's Federal. Also added new lines. I was thinking it could be the box, but the problem is very intermittent. I would think if the box was going bad, it wouldn't work great 99.9% of the time. Generally when they go bad, they go bad and stay bad.

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Not always, my last one started loosing power assist only in one direction but not all the time.

I was looking at the front wheels yesterday, and it looks like there might be a smidge too much toe out on one of them. When I just tried to eyeball the initial alignment after I replaced the ball joints and rod ends, the car would ride fine, but then would catch some flow in the asphalt and one tire would say "I'm going that way". So I'm wondering if the toe setting is just off enough that when I hit the right pattern in the road, the driver's tire decides to follow it.

I'm going to pull the wheels tomorrow and check the bearings, then maybe try some toe adjustments.

Maybe check the idler arm k-member bolt hole for wear possibly throwing toe in and out?

Checked things over the weekend, and as I suspected it's looking like an issue with excessive toe out on the driver's side tire. There is some wear on the passenger side tire, and the driver's side was about 1/2" too far out. I guess under the right road conditions, when I would hit a groove in the road that went to the left, it would pull that tire.