If your car jumps the the right or left and wants to chage lanes when you hit A bump your problem is probably bump steer . Race car guys spend hours correcting bump steer in their race cars . Bump steer is very simple ,when the wheel moves up and down instead of staying straight in turns in or out.Ever drive A old truck with A straight axle and hit A big bump and have the steering wheel jerked out of you hand.There is A very simple test.Make sure your car is on A level surface and the steering wheel in not locked .Bounce the car up and down and watch the steering wheel . If it is moving very much you have bump steer. So to check for the problem look under the car and sight all the steering linkage to make sure the tie rods are paralell with the A arms .They have to travel on the same plane.If they are not parallel with the A arms this will cause all kinds of problems .Next measure the distance from the backing plate to the tie rod and compare side to side . You are checking for A bent steering arm at the wheel.
Ever watch the NASCAR races and some time they talk about Akerman steering. Akerman was A wagon builder in the 1800's.He was having trouble with the steel rims on the wooden wheels walking off when going around corners .He discovered the if he moved the mounting point of linkage at the wheels away from the wheel it solved the problems.So remember all front end geometry not new.Next time you have your car alligned ask them to check the Akerman steering or better known as toe out in turns.All alignment machine can measure this . Then ask them to measure included angles. Which you pay for in the alighment. They will probably tell you do not need that because it is not adjustable.But it is very helpful information. You do not need to know what the spec's all you have to do is compare one side to the . This is true with caster and camber which all need to be within A half degree of each other , or the car will pull. Remember you car will pull to the least camber and most caster . So if car is pulling look at your alignment sheet and compare side to side.If your car is still pulling and everthing is within A half degree. Switch the tires on the front from side to side if the car pulls the other way it is tire.Prabaly A slipped belt in A radial tire .A good test for A slipped belt in A radial tire is to find A level empty parking lot .Drive about 5 miles A hour and let go of the steering wheel .Watch the steering wheel to see if moves every few feet . Every time the slipped belt hits the ground it will cause the stering wheel to move .
The best way to keep caster and camber straight is to remember the caster's on your chair have negative caster .The lower pivot point is to the rear of the upper pivot point. Negative caster .A bicycle has positive caster . This is why you can let go of the handlebars and the bike goes straight. Positive caster is one the factors that causes the car to go straight after A turn by itself. Camber is the wheel in and out at the top of the tire .Usaually afetr A few beers you will develop A camber problem.
Ever watch the NASCAR races and some time they talk about Akerman steering. Akerman was A wagon builder in the 1800's.He was having trouble with the steel rims on the wooden wheels walking off when going around corners .He discovered the if he moved the mounting point of linkage at the wheels away from the wheel it solved the problems.So remember all front end geometry not new.Next time you have your car alligned ask them to check the Akerman steering or better known as toe out in turns.All alignment machine can measure this . Then ask them to measure included angles. Which you pay for in the alighment. They will probably tell you do not need that because it is not adjustable.But it is very helpful information. You do not need to know what the spec's all you have to do is compare one side to the . This is true with caster and camber which all need to be within A half degree of each other , or the car will pull. Remember you car will pull to the least camber and most caster . So if car is pulling look at your alignment sheet and compare side to side.If your car is still pulling and everthing is within A half degree. Switch the tires on the front from side to side if the car pulls the other way it is tire.Prabaly A slipped belt in A radial tire .A good test for A slipped belt in A radial tire is to find A level empty parking lot .Drive about 5 miles A hour and let go of the steering wheel .Watch the steering wheel to see if moves every few feet . Every time the slipped belt hits the ground it will cause the stering wheel to move .
The best way to keep caster and camber straight is to remember the caster's on your chair have negative caster .The lower pivot point is to the rear of the upper pivot point. Negative caster .A bicycle has positive caster . This is why you can let go of the handlebars and the bike goes straight. Positive caster is one the factors that causes the car to go straight after A turn by itself. Camber is the wheel in and out at the top of the tire .Usaually afetr A few beers you will develop A camber problem.