What Is Bump Steer and How You Can Avoid It

By Daren Foertsch

If you've ever noticed your vehicle pulling left or right after hitting a bump, you're not imagining things; that's bump steer. And no, it’s not just a quirky suspension thing, it’s a sign that something’s off with your setup.

Bump steer happens when your suspension moves up and down—like when hitting a bump and your wheels unintentionally steer themselves without any input from the steering wheel. This is especially noticeable at higher speeds or while cornering. Instead of tracking straight, your wheels toe in or out slightly during suspension travel, causing the vehicle to feel twitchy or unpredictable. It’s not only annoying, it can be dangerous especially on modified rides with altered suspension geometry.

From the factory, most vehicles are designed to keep bump steer in check. But when you start modifying—lifting your truck, lowering your car, adding wider wheels, or changing out steering and suspension components you throw off that careful balance. The geometry between the tie rods, control arms, and spindles changes, and suddenly you're dealing with unintended toe variations every time your suspension moves.

Common culprits include lift or lowering kits that change control arm angles, misaligned or upgraded tie rod ends, offset spindles, bad alignment settings, or worn out suspension parts like bushings and ball joints. Any one of these can throw your steering into chaos when the suspension compresses or rebounds.

So how do you avoid it? The first step is identifying where your setup is causing the issue. Bump steer correction kits are one of the most effective solutions. These kits often include adjustable tie rod ends or relocation brackets designed to restore the proper geometry. They’re especially useful if your ride height has been significantly altered from stock.

Next, take a look at your ride height and alignment. Sometimes, a slight adjustment or a professional alignment especially from a shop that knows performance or lifted vehicles can make a major difference. If parts are worn out, replacing components like ball joints, tie rods, or bushings will not only help with bump steer but also tighten up your steering feel overall.

For more advanced setups, adjustable control arms or trailing arms allow you to fine-tune your geometry, giving you better control over how your suspension moves. And if you’re the type who likes dialing things in precisely, a bump steer gauge will let you measure toe changes directly through suspension travel. It's a more involved process, but it gives you exact insight into what's happening.

Another helpful upgrade to consider especially for lifted trucks or off-road rigs is a steering stabilizer. These are essentially shock absorbers for your steering system, helping to reduce unwanted feedback from bumps, ruts, and uneven terrain. While a steering stabilizer doesn’t prevent bump steer, it can make the symptoms feel more manageable by damping out some of that unpredictable movement through the wheel. If your truck feels jittery on rough roads or gets tossed around after hitting a pothole, a quality stabilizer can make a noticeable difference in control and comfort.

Bump steer isn’t something to ignore. Whether you’re building a show truck, an off-road rig, or a track weapon, getting your suspension dialed means safer driving and better control behind the wheel.

We offer high-quality lift kits and support to help you dial in your setup the right way. If you’re chasing better handling, safer steering, or a smoother ride after suspension mods, we’ve got the tools and guidance to help you get there.