Caster off, is this causing the problem?
 

After swapping onto summer tires after the winter was over, i noticed that whenever i enter a corner turning right, the whole front end of the car skips to the right, as if there if the sidewall is flexing. Right when the car skips to the right, traction is immediately lost, traction control light starts blinking. I can't drive spirited into any corner, let alone even take the car to auto x and track day. After the corner is finished and i turn the wheel straight, the car still wants to pull to the right as if its turning, the steering wheel has to be cocked to the left in order for the car to trek straight, then the car pushes it self back to straight, allowing the steering wheel to back into center position to go straight.

I started guessing it was the tires, so i adjusted tire pressure, that didn't work. I bought a whole new set of tires, Bridgestone RE71R and the problem is still there, i'm losing traction into corners going 20mph, where i could previously go at close to 35.

I had an alignment done before the issue started, after the issue began i had the alignment checked again from a better shop, the alignment was fine, except my caster on the left was 4.6, where the range is 5.2-6.7. The right side is 5.9 - in the range. The car was in an accident close to three years ago, the left side had a damaged wheel, but an alignment showed it trek straight. I don't have specs, so who knows if the caster was off the whole time?

Is the caster causing my problem? I know by elimination it seems to be that it would, but every time i talk to my tech friends, they disagree that this would be the issue, since to them caster that small doesn't matter in the real world. I can't seem to think what else it could be, maybe the steering rack?

Edit: I also started a similar topic a while back, this was before i changed the tires. http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88412

Is there anything loose in the front end? It sounds like worn/damaged bushings/tierod/balljoint. Anytime you find the wheel doesn't center properly intermittently that should be the first things checked.

I just jacked up the front and checked both sides. It seems the balljoint on the drivers side is lose, there is a lot of play on the whole suspesnion. Could a bad balljoint cause the caster to go off?

Thanks

also check your front bushings. on a macpherson strut car, I would check the tension rod bushings as its -very often- the reason why the caster is off.

EDIT: the yellow one >>
http://www.jhpusa.com/store/pc/catal...ontbush4_d.jpg

what are your FULL alignment numbers after checking with the better shop?

100% that's the reason, I'm kinda surprised an alignment shop wouldn't have caught that.

Get everything back in working condition and get another alignment afterwards.

Here are the specs, stock suspension.

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/t...pspngpurse.jpg

Another reason a steering wheel might not center is worn strut mount bearings.

The caster is definitely an issue, anything greater than .5 degrees left right will start to exhibit pull to one side. It will also affect the ability for the car to center the wheel

Figure I'd give a small update. The local Toyota dealership wouldn't sell me an individual balljoint, they said I'd have to buy the whole front lower control arm. They even showed the me the exploded diagram and it even stated that as well. I was told that it could be a Subaru thing.

Odd.

Either way, i ordered an OEM one online from another parts center.

Where'd you get just the balljoint? There were numerous other posts/threads about not being able to find the balljoint without the whole LCA!

Mitsubishi did this, so a lot of evo guys would just get the white line roll center adjusters.

- andy

Here are two places.

http://www.villagescionparts.com/sho...category=19383

Part#: SU00300358

https://parts.olathetoyota.com/2013-...r-s-parts.html

I ordered it from olathetoyota.

I saw that Buddy Club and Megan Racing make aftermarket ones, but i don't want more adjustment on this car...

Edit: You guys know if the balljoint has to be pressed in via hydraulic press? Or can a balljoint press tool can be used without a problem?

Update:

Turns out you can't order the balljoint individually, it does have it's own part number but it has to be ordered with the LCA. Olathetoyota told me this a week after ordering.

What do you guys recommend? Buddy Club or Megan Racing?