Loose steering, car suddenly pulls left/right, need help Options

[azian_advanced]

hey guys, i need some input regarding a steering problem that i have. when i drive straight and hold the steering wheel steadily, there are times when the car will drive straight then suddenly pull slightly to the left or right... not by too much, but just slightly enough that i can correct it by countersteering. it happens while driving at any speed. the steering wheel feels normal, like it's not loose or anything when i turn.

1. if my alignment is off, wouldn't it just keep pulling to 'one' side? not both.

2. how do i determine if the ball joint is bad?

3. how do i know if the tierods are bad? <-- my intuition says this is the culprit

4. how do i know if my whole steering rack is f***ed? i hope this isn't the case.

can anyone give me some pointers to narrow down this problem? it's scary to drive (especially with the icy roads here) with this problem. any input will be greatly appreciated. thanks

[richee3]

My old Celica had nice, tight steering, Never noticed anything wrong with it. But this one feels a little looser, and will pull either way if there is a rut in the road. Hopefully for you, Azian, that your problem is the same as mine and it's just older worn-out steering. I doubt if yours is worn out like mine though. Potholes...