My car has had bump steer for some time and I have read / ignored advice saying it can be dangerous. I would like to put an extra argument that
the wear and tear on the steering linkages is significant, mandatory and will mean $$$ in the mid to long term. Of course, if left long enough, a steering component could break and create some genuine adrenalin moments, but who would ignore the bad steering for that long?
Normally the steering linkages / rods work together one side pulling, the other side pushing due to the steering wheel being turned. When the wheels go up and down,
horizontal forces going into the steering linkages are reasonably small. The only loads/ resistance coming from the tyres wanting to go straight ahead.
When there is bump steer, because the ride height has changed, there are undesirable, horizontal vectors (impacts) going into the steering rods and the connections between them. Much worse is when both front wheels hit a bump and forces enter L&R tie rods
in opposing directions. Whack! The steering wheel doesn’t turn,
but something has absorbed those significant forces. My steering linkages are worn, sometimes causing pulling to the side when braking and general vagueness in steering instead of “being on rails”. The more I’ve thought about it, I now realise it is caused by worn steering linkages which were caused by years of driving a lowered car. Also I think I have been critical in my assessment of the Eibach springs as being too hard for Sydney roads, but now I think the steering linkages have been acting like bumpstops and restricting the wheels’ travel also, especially when both wheels hit at the same time. So I take back my assessment of the Eibachs for now. So I am going to fit some correction to the bump steer and replace worn components in the steering, then I'm convinced the car will be on rails and the Eibachs perhaps not as savage as I thought.
Those of you who know all this have obviously dealt with it by buying or building some bump steer compensation bits and pieces. I will do some research to see how easy that is to do. Any suggestions would be most welcome ?
These really are sensational cars to drive.