Serious Steering Problems PLS HELP

[skidindish]

Hey Everyone. I have recently purchased an 86 and ofcorse Im super stoked! But it has got some major issues concerning the steering. It's as if when I go around a corner something slips and the car pulls towards the direction in wich Im turning, then when I straighten up the steering wheel is off center. Then (and this is the part that really confuses me) I hit the brakes and the steering wheel goes back to center I have so far illiminated several possible causes such as; wheel alignment, rack mount slipage, steering column... I have a feeling that the cause might be in the rear end...? Has anyone ever come across anything like this befor? And if so, what is causing it? Or if anyone can direct me on the best way to diagnose this problem as it makes the car not only difficult to drive but also scary and very unsafe. I would greatly appreciate any help in this matter.

Thanks.

[luke111]

Sounds like play in one of the ball joints to me. Makes it feel like the back end wants to overtake the front in corners

[luke111]

When you hit the brakes you're applying load to the front pushing them back into place, which is why when you brake your steering wheel centers itself

[skidindish]

Ahh... Thanks man. Yeh just looked at the ball joints while my bro rocked the steering and the lower conrol arm was hitting the brake splash plate . I also noticed the lower control arms have ke55 writen on them. Any idea on wether I can replace those ball joints or does the whole arm have to be replaced? Think the ke55 arms might be a bit longer then 86 arms because the wheels seem to sit a bit of a ways out.

[LittleRedSpirit]

Yes ke55 arms are a little longer from memory, just like xt 130 or ra40 ones.

You can have new balljoints fitted to those arms.

[skidindish]

Awesome! Thanks heeps guys

[slide86]

yep my bluebird did the same thing, turns out one of the control arms was distorted where the balljoint goes through, and the balljoint would actually move in and out of the control arm and have the same symptoms you have......

[skidindish]

Just yesterday I got the new ball joints and replaced them. So happy with it now, so thanks once again for your help on this one dudes. I was really starting to worry bout this... The old ball joints were fairly rooted but they weren''t even tighted up fully, no split pins or nothin. Who ever had worked on this car must have been spastic.