CaptainXL said:
I have never experienced our steering automatically coming back to the center on its own.
However I would flush the power steering fluid when you get the chance.
I had checked the fluid and it looks very clean, but I'll look into flushing it out for good measure.
My other thought is it may be the Rack and Pinion sticking.
Chickenhawk said:
Any history of front-end damage? Are the front tires (or rear tires, if they switched them before you bought it) worn evenly across the tread or are they more worn on the inside then the outside?
I am not an alignment expert but it almost sounds like too much toe-out. If changing the power steering fluid doesn't seem to help, you may need a wheel alignment.
Also, if you are used to driving a front-wheel-drive car, this truck will feel very different. There is no tendency for the wheel to self-straighten around a corner like there is on a front-wheel-drive car.
If it can be believed, CarFax shows no history of collision and from everything I've inspected so far on the vehicle, I haven't found any existing or repaired damage.
I haven't had it up on a lift yet so that could be telling once I do.
Got it from a Dealer with 4 Brand new tires already on it so can't say much about tire wear etc.
Although that in itself could indicate there may have been excessive tire wear for whatever reason.
But considering the 50K + mileage it should have needed new tires anyway.
I did consider the alignment being a problem but would presume ( I don't count on it ) if new tires were put on, it "should" have had an alignment done.
But I agree, you may have hit on something regarding the alignment because I do notice, looking at the vehicle from the front, both front tires look to be leaning inward at the top and not totally straight up and down.
Been driving AWD trucks for the past 8 years so it could well be I'm not used to the different steering feedback, and not coming back to center on it's own may be normal.
But to elaborate more on what I'm experiencing with this Envoy:
It drives and handles very well except, as I mentioned, when turning the wheel slightly off center, left or right, the wheel actually stays there as if there is some force holding it and the vehicle will continue to go in that direction until I straighten it out.
In that respect, the steering just doesn't feel smooth and free.
And I'm only turning it about 1/8 of a turn,... any more than that, then the wheel will tend to move, somewhat, back toward center again.
Thanks again for everyone's feedback and thoughts.
Much more responses on this Forum than the one I just came from
