2GN.ORG

Driving today I started noticing a steering issue. My Neon had a 4 wheel alignment less than 3 months ago and that made the car drive nice and straight.

Just today I started noticing some odd ball steering just pulling out of my driveway. There was no play at all in the steering wheel but the it was not as responsive as normal turning left as opposed to right. Also, when stepping on the brakes while coasting in neutral it drifted a little as well. On the freeway today it was fine sometimes than at other times just driving straight I felt like I was drifting or like the wind was trying to push me over a lane.

What gives? Is this a tie rod or steering arm issue? Should I look for other symptoms? I expect this kind of stuff in my old chevy truck, not the Neon.

Thanks in advance for your help.

I have a 2001 Dodge Neon RT MTX with 111K miles.

beachbrum wrote:I felt like ... the wind was trying to push me over a lane.

Please refer to the following thread:

viewtopic.php?t=38983

Have you checked your tire pressure?

Wouldn't they have checked they when they did his alignment?

Possible spool valve sticking in the rack.

Edit: Now that I have time for a better answer

This is the part I was referring to: "it was not as responsive as normal turning left as opposed to right"

Ok rotary valve would be another term. Basically if it goes bad, it will provide pressure to one side of the rack piston, but less or none to the other side. I have driven cars with a bad valve, so this reminded me of that it was much worse tho. Turning to the left was like the engine was off, and the right was full power. Once it ran for a few minutes it would improve.

GreeNeons03 wrote:Wouldn't they have checked they when they did his alignment?

That was 3 months ago, according to the OP. I hope you check your tires more often then every 3 months!

After checking your tires, i'd look into a possible brake drag issue, or bad suspension bushings (front LCA bushings have similar symptoms when failed).