Acura TL-S Sloppy Steering?
#1
Ryan's loving his ATLP TL
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Acura TL-S Sloppy Steering?
Hello all, I have a NBP 07 TL-S 6MT. My front steering is severely sloppy feeling. It feels like I'm driving a 1990s Buick Oldsmobile. When I move the wheel it has no feel to it. It's completely loose feeling unlike the normal super tight Type S feel. Anyone have an idea of what it is? I have a suspicion it's tie rods. My car has 118K on it.
#2
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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I think you're on the right track.
How is the tire wear? Check the rear tires too, to account for any rotation immediately preceding the sloppy feel.
Did the car go through any suspension work or damage before the sloppy feel started, or was there any tire alignment done after the sloppy steering?
How is the tire wear? Check the rear tires too, to account for any rotation immediately preceding the sloppy feel.
Did the car go through any suspension work or damage before the sloppy feel started, or was there any tire alignment done after the sloppy steering?
#4
Ryan's loving his ATLP TL
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#5
Ryan's loving his ATLP TL
Thread Starter
I think you're on the right track.
How is the tire wear? Check the rear tires too, to account for any rotation immediately preceding the sloppy feel.
Did the car go through any suspension work or damage before the sloppy feel started, or was there any tire alignment done after the sloppy steering?
How is the tire wear? Check the rear tires too, to account for any rotation immediately preceding the sloppy feel.
Did the car go through any suspension work or damage before the sloppy feel started, or was there any tire alignment done after the sloppy steering?
#6
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Join Date: Aug 2005
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Hopefully you don't find any damage to the suspension. If you do, get an alignment only after part(s) replacement.
#7
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I don't think there's a suretell way of diagnosing a steering rack, but try jacking up the front of the car, turn on the engine, and steer back and forth with the wheels off the ground. Any noises or inconsistencies with the steering should be pretty isolated to the rack at that point.
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#8
Ryan's loving his ATLP TL
Thread Starter
Try to rule out everything else in the suspension first.
I don't think there's a suretell way of diagnosing a steering rack, but try jacking up the front of the car, turn on the engine, and steer back and forth with the wheels off the ground. Any noises or inconsistencies with the steering should be pretty isolated to the rack at that point.
I don't think there's a suretell way of diagnosing a steering rack, but try jacking up the front of the car, turn on the engine, and steer back and forth with the wheels off the ground. Any noises or inconsistencies with the steering should be pretty isolated to the rack at that point.
#9
Senior Moderator
Hello all, I have a NBP 07 TL-S 6MT. My front steering is severely sloppy feeling. It feels like I'm driving a 1990s Buick Oldsmobile. When I move the wheel it has no feel to it. It's completely loose feeling unlike the normal super tight Type S feel. Anyone have an idea of what it is? I have a suspicion it's tie rods. My car has 118K on it.
I bet it's the Control Arm Bushings that are worn/torn that are causing the play and "slop" in the steering. Replace them and it should tighten up the steering by quite a bit. Also replace the Power Steering Fluid too! With 118K on your shocks they probably need to be replaced too and are the cause of the "float" and 1990's oldsmobile feeling. My shocks lasted me until 150K on my TL and I had them replaced with another set of factory shocks and the difference was night and day. You should check the wear on your front tires and see how they are. Usually when this type of steering slop occurs the tires start to wear out prematurely.
Get the new shocks, bushings and do a 4 wheel alignment and you should be good to go for another 180K minus brakes and other fluids!
#11
Ryan's loving his ATLP TL
Thread Starter
I bet it's the Control Arm Bushings that are worn/torn that are causing the play and "slop" in the steering. Replace them and it should tighten up the steering by quite a bit. Also replace the Power Steering Fluid too! With 118K on your shocks they probably need to be replaced too and are the cause of the "float" and 1990's oldsmobile feeling. My shocks lasted me until 150K on my TL and I had them replaced with another set of factory shocks and the difference was night and day. You should check the wear on your front tires and see how they are. Usually when this type of steering slop occurs the tires start to wear out prematurely.
Get the new shocks, bushings and do a 4 wheel alignment and you should be good to go for another 180K minus brakes and other fluids!
Get the new shocks, bushings and do a 4 wheel alignment and you should be good to go for another 180K minus brakes and other fluids!
Thanks for the information!
I actually replaced my shocks with an A-Spec Type S suspension around 50K. Maybe it's time I looked into replacing it again? I'll check the bushings tonight. I remember my base TL's were torn around 100K.
#12
Ryan's loving his ATLP TL
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#13
Ryan's loving his ATLP TL
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I went under the car. I recorded a video, but this website wont let me upload it from my phone. Basically... near the rear of the engine.. there was a tinging sound when my friend would turn my steering wheel left to right in a quick motion. It's definitely where the slack is coming from in my steering. Where is the Rack located?
#14
Ryan's loving his ATLP TL
Thread Starter
I went under the car. I recorded a video, but this website wont let me upload it from my phone. Basically... near the rear of the engine.. there was a tinging sound when my friend would turn my steering wheel left to right in a quick motion. It's definitely where the slack is coming from in my steering. Where is the Rack located?
#17
Ryan's loving his ATLP TL
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