Does it just need an alignment?

[spotdog14]

Greetings everyone. We recently purchased an '02 XLT and I am trying to diagnose a problem we are having, the vehicle use to pull really bad when we first got it, but I actually inflated the passenger side tires (they were both below 10 PSI) and the car drives fine now, but the steering wheel is all tilted (but does not pull anymore) like you would be doing donuts but you are actually driving straight. After I put air in the tires I also noticed that both front tires have negative camber now (negative is where the top of the wheel is farther out than the bottom right?) and when ever we go over an irregularity in the road the wheel jerks, but only jerks when we go over something on the passenger side of the vehicle.

So, what do you think? I have looked and the lower ball joints look almost brand new, but the passenger side tie rod end looks a little ****eyed, would an alignment issue cause the steering wheel to jerk when going over something?

Thanks for any help guys!

 

[Curtis]

sounds like you don't need an alignment.

But also sounds like who ever did the last alignment didn't center the steering wheel first. Or just did a bad job.

The tie rods have adjustment to to effectively point the tires in the correct direction. its indirect of the steering wheel.
Lets say your steering wheel is turned to the right when the wheels are straight.
The alignment shop would have to center the steering wheel, which turns the wheels to the left of straight. Then using the tie rods, they can bring the wheels back straight.

Also, an alignment wouldn't cause or prevent a wheel from jerking on a bump.
Anyway, pictures of your ****eyed tie rod would be good to post.
I don't know if you can take a small video clip of the jerking tire also and post on www.photobucket.com. then post the link here.

 

[spotdog14]

sounds like you don't need an alignment.

But also sounds like who ever did the last alignment didn't center the steering wheel first. Or just did a bad job.

The tie rods have adjustment to to effectively point the tires in the correct direction. its indirect of the steering wheel.
Lets say your steering wheel is turned to the right when the wheels are straight.
The alignment shop would have to center the steering wheel, which turns the wheels to the left of straight. Then using the tie rods, they can bring the wheels back straight.

Also, an alignment wouldn't cause or prevent a wheel from jerking on a bump.
Anyway, pictures of your ****eyed tie rod would be good to post.
I don't know if you can take a small video clip of the jerking tire also and post on www.photobucket.com. then post the link here.

Hey, thanks for the help! Ill have to take some pics when I get home. I am so use to doing things on my '95 that when I looked under the '02 it was strange.

What would cause the wheel to jerk when going over bumps?

 

[Curtis]

What would cause the wheel to jerk when going over bumps?

Need some more information. Video would be perfect.
Does it jerk forward - backwards?
Does it jerk in - out?
Does it jerk up - down?
Only passenger side, you've never seen it on the drivers side?
Is the a 4x4 or 2wd?

 

[spotdog14]

Need some more information. Video would be perfect.
Does it jerk forward - backwards?
Does it jerk in - out?
Does it jerk up - down?
Only passenger side, you've never seen it on the drivers side?
Is the a 4x4 or 2wd?

Alright, when going over a bump in the road the steering wheel jerks almost out of your hands if you do not have a good grip on the wheel, and this is only when hitting something on the passenger side. You can hit the same spot in the road with the drivers side and its just a normal bump no abnormal steering wheel movement. Its a 4x4 auto.