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Just put in new rack and pinion.

Steering wheel is centered when driving straight ahead, and car seems well aligned. When I count the number of turns of wheel to steer to extreme right or left, number of turns seem the same (slightly more than 1-1/2 turns). When front tires pointed straight ahead, steering wheel is centered (seems OK). THerefore, it seems centering of pinion on rack is proper and alignment of car is proper , but could be wrong here.

When turning at slow speed (like to park or do U turn), sharp turn to left (with steering wheel not quite all the way to left), tires turn further left on their own if hands are off the steering wheel. This effect seems to be more pronounced the sharper the turn (i.e, farther left) and the lower the speed. A few times, depending upon turn, speed, and slope, I observed same was sometimes true for the right but to a much lesser extent. Also, for slow sharp turn left , with wheel all the way to the left, steering wheel does not come back to center on its own when steering wheel is  released, and I have to assist to get it to come back to center; same true for turn with wheel all the way to right.

Car did not do this with the old rack and pinion. What could be wrong?  

there is NO mechanical return to center device in any car that i know of...

what seems to recenter the steering wheel is the caster setting of the front suspension/wheel alignment.

what...

the lower ball joint is usually forward of the upper pivot point.. or upper ball joint..

the angle causes the steering to recenter as the weight of the car is balanced between the front wheels as they roll along the road .....  

i would wonder if your suspension is slightly worn..  i have also found that the upper strut mount bearings on a few cars have seized.. preventing the steering from returning freely..  

you might want to have an experienced wheel alignment and suspension tech look at your car.. take it for a short test drive..

you might want to look over at alldatadiy.com   check the TSB titles... see if there is any on the suspension or steering on your car..  the titles of the TSBs are free..  Technical Service bulletin  

Waynep7122, Thanks so much for response and particularly the in-depth on ball joints, caster, suspension. While the shop that put in rebuilt R&P indicates they also re-aligned after, I think I'll have someone else check the alignment, and also some of those suspension components you mention.

But given that car wasn't behaving this way before rebuilt rack and pinion was installed, might that rule out suspension problems, and limit the problem to either alignment, or in some way rack and pinion?

Thanks again,

Joecar1