Feels like I'm driving on air.

[nightime25]

Ok so I've had my car parked for the winter, and yesterday while I was on the highway the steering wheel would move back and fourth almost like i was driving on air. Also when cornering left the car would feel unstable almost like It were sliding if you will. My CV joint on the driver side is clicking Could this be related? tire pressure is not an issue. It drove fine before I parked it, Im stumped.

[Tippey764]

If your axle is bad that could cause the car to shake and the steering wheel to shake back and forth as you drive down the road. My car does that and i have a bad axle.

[nightime25]

It will "shake" at about 70, the problem i'm having isn't so much a shake, but more like the wheel is gliding from side to side. Sorry I cant find the word to describe this.

[nate'sCB7]

So theres "play" in the steering, you turn the wheel but the car stays straight?
Is that what you're trying to say

[nightime25]

So theres "play" in the steering, you turn the wheel but the car stays straight?
Is that what you're trying to say

No the wheel turns fine, But while I was going around a curve on the highway the car felt like the tire/tires broke lose for a minute and the car was going to slide. I know this is hard to understand I'm just having trouble trying to put what i'm trying to say into words.

[nightime25]

Yes like there is play, alot of play in the wheel.

[wed3k]

check if it is the steering wheel itself, steering shaft or the rack and pinion.

[nightime25]

[QUOTE=wed3k;2475344]check if it is the steering wheel itself, steering shaft or the rack and pinion.[/QUOTE

How about the power steering pump itself? I think im about to answer my own question but here it goes, The steering is hard at times when trying to turn in a parking lot and the wheel will jerk ever so slightly. Would you think this would cause the issue im having?

[Losiracer2]

how old and nasty is your PS fluid? try draining and filling that maybe?

[TypeG]

sat all winter? you could have flat spots on the tires. later.

[nightime25]

sat all winter? you could have flat spots on the tires. later.

Yeah I had thought about that, because I had no problems before I parked it.

[drkshdw107]

two possibilities...first, if you have air in the power steering system from a leak on the suction side...or from being low on fluid then this can cause the "floating" feeling when driving. second, if your shocks are bad this can cause the same feeling when driving...and especially around turns and over bumps...you can bounce each corner of the car (like doing CPR on the fenders) and if the car keeps bouncing (more than 2 times) you may have a shock problem...good luck

[batever]

Lots of good advice here, now I'll add my two bits.

The power steering pump just provides the base hydraulic pressure for power steering, while the power streering rack modulates and directs it. It is mostly for low speed operation--from 0 to say 20 mph. The valves in the power steering rack are supposed to reduce the amount of hjydraulic power assist that is directed to the steering as you increase to higher speeds. Once you are at highway speed the power steering rack is supposed to cut the assist *way down* to just about zero because it's easy to turn the wheel at that speed anyways.

If there is a problem with the solenoid or whatever that controls this, then you could get full power assist even at speed, which would cause a freakishly easy to turn steering wheel.

I would also check the tie rod ends and see if there's play. Check the inner ones and the outer ones There's a sticky up on top on how to do it. To basically see if there's any steering play, jack the front of the car up and try to wiggle the wheels side to side. They shouldn't move at all.

Same for wiggling them up and down--very basic test of the ball joints. They shouldn't move at all (this test is for the ball joints).


also, you could have a loose axle nut *or* your hub bearings could be shot. Although you would probably hear bad sounds if they were. But any of that stuff can cause "loose" unresponsive steering that could result in a floating feeling while cornering.

It's possible your power steering rack is loose as well--in other words, not securely mounted.

[flatblakftw]

Id say quite possibly the power steering pump... the axles shouuldnt cause that if the car drove fine before being parked

[Tippey764]

To be honset i dont think the axles are the cause of the problem but you since you said they were bad i would replace them