The center link on a steering system is unlevel. What is the likely result?

When the center link of a steering system is unlevel, it typically affects the geometry of the steering system, which can lead to a phenomenon known as bump steer. Bump steer occurs when the alignment changes as the suspension travels up and down, causing the vehicle to steer unintentionally. This happens because the angles of the tie rods and the center link influence the steering knuckles, and when they are not at the correct angles due to the unlevel center link, the wheels can turn slightly when hitting bumps.

This misalignment disrupts the intended steering response and can lead to undesirable handling characteristics, especially noticeable when driving over irregular surfaces. The other outcomes related to pulls to either side or an incorrect thrust angle pertain to different issues in suspension and alignment but do not directly align with the consequences of an unlevel center link as accurately as bump steer does.