Bump steer kit and when?

[one eyed willy]

Heard it been talked about, not sure when it's needed. My car is lowered with the air ride but my "driving" ride height is probably 1.5" lower than stock.

It's been aligned at "drive" height, but the steering seems to ultra-sensitive at high speeds going around corners. I know with the air ride I don't get the weight transfer I used to get when cornering, but I'm talking about if I'm just on the interstate, going fairly fast, coming up to a wide sweeping corner. Feels like the car wants to drift outward as I turn the wheel slightly, so I increase the steering then it feels like it wants to cut inward rather quickly.

I have a few different things I could adjust on the air ride, rebound and ride height . If I raise the coils I could lower the pressure in the bags which may help with the weight transfer.

Before I start making adjustments, I'd like to know If I should do a bump steer kit so I can do everything all at once.

 

[csamsh]

What's your toe set at?

 

[one eyed willy]

Alignment was just set to factory specs.

 

[Sky Render]

You need a bump steer kit when you start experiencing bump steer. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[csamsh]

Sounds to me like your camber/toe need to be put in order. Get some exact measurements and go from there.

 

[BMR Tech]

Heard it been talked about, not sure when it's needed. My car is lowered with the air ride but my "driving" ride height is probably 1.5" lower than stock.

It's been aligned at "drive" height, but the steering seems to ultra-sensitive at high speeds going around corners. I know with the air ride I don't get the weight transfer I used to get when cornering, but I'm talking about if I'm just on the interstate, going fairly fast, coming up to a wide sweeping corner. Feels like the car wants to drift outward as I turn the wheel slightly, so I increase the steering then it feels like it wants to cut inward rather quickly.

I have a few different things I could adjust on the air ride, rebound and ride height . If I raise the coils I could lower the pressure in the bags which may help with the weight transfer.

Before I start making adjustments, I'd like to know If I should do a bump steer kit so I can do everything all at once.

Other than "feel"....the only way to know if you need to correct your bump steer, is to check for it.

Basically, you remove your strut/spring assembly....and raise the suspension all the way up, then all the way down. You will monitor the movement of the wheel/spindle through the curve. The goal is to minimize the amount of movement in or out (bump in, bump out) during the articulation of the A-Arm pivoting.

Addressing the bump, with a bump steer kit, is done by changing the effective length of the tie rod. The longer the tie-rod, with a greater angle....the more the wheels want to bump out. The shorter the tie rod, with less angle...the more prone they are to bumping in. You simply want to make the effective lengths during articulation "match" though out the arc, so there is no drastic difference through the travel range when being used.

These cars are not as prone to excessive bump in and out, like some of the previous platforms.

I recommend going toe out, and toe in on your toe settings, first. Then, seeing if that makes a difference. It may be your toe settings causing what you are experiencing, as stated.

 

[Sky Render]

You need a bump steer kit when you start experiencing bump steer. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Sky Render, that was a bloody awful and unhelpful post.

Willy, bump steer issues don't usually creep up until you're lowered more than only 1.5". I think you need a good alignment from a shop who doesn't mind working around modified vehicles. Sounds to me like you might have screwed up toe.

 

[Pentalab]

What is your camber set to on each side ?

It's either the toe or the camber.

You might want to get the alignment checked. Then change your ride height with the air bags between extremes...and get it checked again.

 

[dontlifttoshift]

Your air ride is split to four separate corners right?

Past that, alignment. You don't need the bump steer kit.

 

[sheizasosay]

Heard it been talked about, not sure when it's needed. My car is lowered with the air ride but my "driving" ride height is probably 1.5" lower than stock.

It's been aligned at "drive" height, but the steering seems to ultra-sensitive at high speeds going around corners. I know with the air ride I don't get the weight transfer I used to get when cornering, but I'm talking about if I'm just on the interstate, going fairly fast, coming up to a wide sweeping corner. Feels like the car wants to drift outward as I turn the wheel slightly, so I increase the steering then it feels like it wants to cut inward rather quickly.

I have a few different things I could adjust on the air ride, rebound and ride height . If I raise the coils I could lower the pressure in the bags which may help with the weight transfer.

Before I start making adjustments, I'd like to know If I should do a bump steer kit so I can do everything all at once.

Is this the first time driving fast around corners since air ride suspension install? Air Rides spring rate is progressive and it *starts* at 800+ in/lbs and ramps up quickly. That's a sheeeeit load of spring rate dude. Weight transfer gets confusing, but you are actually experiencing more weight transfer. Anyway, that topic goes deep,but your spring rates should feel darty. Any imperfection in your alignment will probably get magnified from the ultra-fast weight transfer.

It's also worth contacting Air Ride to see if this sounds symptomatic of a problem that has been previously reported.