Mechanic Glossary

Bump Steer

A steering deflection that occurs when suspension travel forces the front wheels to steer slightly without input from the steering wheel.

Bump steer is a handling problem. It occurs when a tire hits a bump and the suspension compresses, forcing that wheel to steer left or right on its own. This happens because the arc of the tie rod does not match the travel path of the control arm. As the wheel moves up and down, the tie rod pulls or pushes on the steering knuckle, changing the wheel angle. The driver has to constantly correct the steering wheel on bumpy roads.

This is common on lifted trucks and lowered sports cars. Modifying the ride height shifts the steering rack and control arms out of their factory alignment angles. Correcting bump steer requires installing adjustable tie rod ends (bump steer kits) or dropping the steering rack to restore the parallel angle between the tie rods and control arms.

Frequently Asked Questions

The steering wheel jerks in your hands, or the car pulls suddenly to the side when you drive over a bump or dip in the highway.
Yes, especially at high speeds. Sudden steering shifts on wet or bumpy roads can cause you to lose control of the vehicle.
Raise the car on a rack, remove the coil springs, and move the suspension through its travel sweep using a jack. Measure how much the toe angle changes at different heights using an alignment dial gauge.

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