Originally Posted by BlazingSaddle
Here's the question: First, here's the observation: when I drive it, I notice a noticeable "wiggle room" in the steering that makes the car move slightly to one side or the other. It's almost imperceptible. It feels very much like older trucks where there is a very noticeable wiggle room in the steering that forces you to constantly move the steering wheel to adjust the shifting of the vehicle, side to side. My Acura, for example, when I drive it, I won't have to move the steering wheel at all when I'm driving a straight line. The Crossfire, seems to force me to make very minor shifts in my steering wheel, even when I'm driving a straight line. Do any one of you also experience this? I'd love to hear your experiences. Thanks.
This is likely normal design and probably exists on ALL Crossfires. You mention that the steering feels like that of an older truck. That is because the Crossfire has recirculating ball steering, just like that found in many trucks or utility vehicles. There is always some play in such steering systems - adjusting the steering to eliminate the wiggle will increase wear to the system. Recirculating ball steering provides a mechanical advantage (doesn't matter so much with power steering), shorter turning radius, durability, and doesn't transfer harsh feedback from the road to the driver (all good things if you are a truck driver). But on the downside, you don't get the useful feedback from the road that you will with a rack and pinion system, which may also contribute to why you have to make frequent steering correections.
The other steering issue is the tendency to pull left or right when road surfaces are not even. That is caused by a combination of short wheelbase and wide tires.