I've been having a problem for quite a while now that the dealer says they can't figure it out (they claim to have gone over the entire front end) and to just see if it goes away... Um, no. Here's the deal:

If I turn to the right (say in a normal right turn), once I get the WRX going straight, the steering wheel itself is still turn a few degrees to the right. Same thing to the left (with the steering wheel sticking to the left a few degrees).

I have noticed that it seems to happen less in cold weather (especially on my trip to the snow last week).

I'm at a loss here. If it is affected by hot/cold then it would have to be some kind of rubber at fault, right? And if the dealer has gone over the entire front end, could it be in the back? I've already had the alignment done, gotten new tires, alignment done again, blah blah blah, and the problem persists.

Any ideas?

 

I have the same issue. I noticed this once i went to 225s on the stock rims. What about when you are driving straight down the road? Is the steering wheel straight up and down?

 

get some upgraded steering rack bushings. like these: https://www.i-club.com/reviews/showp...cat=123&page=1 or the whiteline bushings.

 

These are good stuff!

 

Depends on which way I turned last. I can give the wheel a jerk to bring it back to normal, but after the next turn it's off again.

Thanks for the bushing idea, I'll be looking at it after work. Do you know of any local shops that sell the bushings? Any install howto's?

 

MPJ and Gruppe-S should have it. There has been some tutorial stuff that is available and DIY instructions on that stuff too, but I just had it installed by the shop coz I hear the driver side (I think) is a pain in the behind.

 

This is referred to as "memory steer" and is commonly reported on the WRX. The bushings are said to help although I haven't tried them myself.

 

I installed the whiteline bushings in my car and memory steer was nothing but a....memory.


I'll be here all night, don't forget to tip your waitress.

 

I spoke with the dealership once I was off work, they said that because this would be the 4th (yes, 4th) time I would bring my car in they would not let it leave until the problem was fixed. I told them about the steering bushings, I got a "yeah... that could be it" (why the heck didn't they think of that before?). So I drop it off tomorrow, and in theory get it back Friday afternoon/night.

*crosses fingers*

 

Let us know if that fixes it. I think I might talk to MPJ to have them installed since its usually pretty cheap

 

I'll know some time Friday afternoon because they still have to "diagnose" the problem... Wait, didn't they do that the first 3 times I brought it in?

 

If they keep replacing it with the same cow dung they use, it will not go away.

 

Exactly.

The steering rack bushings are about $30. Not too expensive to fix this one on your own, and you'll get other benefits besides the memory steer going away.

 

I completely understand that, but as of now this is more about making the dealer realize what asses they've been in dragging this out. I'll let them do the warranty work, then I'll change them out for some Whiteline's. It may take longer, but it's a matter of principal.