help! it wont go strait

[TTop GT]

i dont know what the problem is...

when i drive, the car seems to wonder all over the road,it feels kinda like i pulled the front swaybar, but the car stays flat, and wonders worse...

when i turn, it does not feel like it used to the back seems to be loose, but doesnt slide or squeel , it just feels loose

i put new tires on it yesterday, and im not sure wheather thats the problem or not i dont think so though

please help... (at only 70mph the car feels REALLY squirrley)

[Traceman]

I would suppose that you double checked the air pressure in them. Probably just not used to getting traction again. Over compensating maybe.

[TTop GT]

the pressure was the first thing i checked 40psi all around

and i throw my car into and around turns all the time, i know what it feels like when it sliding or getting ready to let loose, but this is totally different(dangerous). if i had to guess, it almost seems like the rear axle is shifting

it it possible that it could be bad bushings somewhere within the car? i would think it would be a gradual thing if so... this seems to have happened all at once

[Rusman]

I guess you never noticed this until AFTER you changed tires? It's possible that the tires you have now are following ruts and cracks in the road. Many Z rated tires will do this, and they get worse the wider they are.

Is it like this: you're driving fine, then all of a sudden the wheel jerks to the right or left, slightly, enough to make you veer? Depending on the severity of the rut, it CAN be dangerous! If it's the tires, you either have to get used to it and be ready for it, or change tires.

I've noticed rutted asphalt is REALLY bad. Like on I-10 heading west just past 610 they have a couple of lanes repaved with asphalt...these are pretty bad, so bad that I try not to drive in them at all!

What kind of tires are they?

[Rusman]

Oh yeah, you might want to make sure that your lugs are tight! I think you would hear noises if they were loose, but maybe your wheels are wobbling around cause the lugs aren't tight?

[TTop GT]

i only replaced the rear tires... i purchased 2 245/50/16 road hugger tires(they are mounted on ponys) and are currently at 42 psi

im pretty sure its not the tires following groves because it does it on every road at every speed

i first noticed it on the freeway, and that is initally what it thought it was, that was untill i noticed it on every road the rest if the way to my friends house ...it feels almost the same(same feeling but worse) but the rear feels more squirrely

[Severisth]

When I first had my car, the sway bar mount was broken on one side and had symptoms similar to what you are describing. Take a glance at your sway bars and make sure they are connected both to the frame and to the a-arms...

[TTop GT]

i looked at em and the front doesnt look broke, on either side and what i can see of the back looks fine too, i pushed the back with my foot and it didnt move

is it possible that its a tie rod or rubber bushing or something?
:(

[Timebomb]

Is there any play in the steering wheel? If so the tie rod ends may be worn out. Also, get under the car and grab the upper and lower control arms on the rear end and see if there is any play in them by shaking them. Probably wouldn't hurt to make sure everything is tight either. When is the last time you had an alignmnet?

[TTop GT]

ive had it a year and a half.... and i havent aligned it

but i think its getting worse... i almost sideswiped a civic when i tried to pass it

the back is all over the place and i cant hardly go in a straight line
:(

[Timebomb]

Do everything I said and also jack the front end of the car up. When my front tie rods where bad I could move the wheel and tire about an inch from side to side. I'd check all this and then take the car in for an alignment.

[Traceman]

Originally posted by TTop GT
ive had it a year and a half.... and i havent aligned it

but i think its getting worse... i almost sideswiped a civic when i tried to pass it

the back is all over the place and i cant hardly go in a straight line
:(




Hitting a Civic doesn't sound too bad! Sounds like you may need to get it somewhere to have it looked at quick before you hurt yourself. It has to be something obvious. Take the back wheels back off and check everything they did again. Back track everything they might have done.

[TTop GT]

ill check both... but there isnt any play on the steering wheel, and the rack is fairly new... i have control of the front(i think) but not the back... ill check everything just in case

[TTop GT]

Originally posted by Traceman





Hitting a Civic doesn't sound too bad! Sounds like you may need to get it somewhere to have it looked at quick before you hurt yourself. It has to be something obvious. Take the back wheels back off and check everything they did again. Back track everything they might have done.

lol... i got the work done at discount... i stood there and watched the guy do everything... including torque all the lugs by hand

[Blue91]

Have you done what the others have suggested and got under the rear of the car and checked side to side movement from your upper and lower control arms? If you are gonna post for help, hehe, go through the troubleshooting steps those that have replied suggest. You wont get it fixed by just talking about it. You need to get up under the car and check things out firsthand.

Check the control arms and the torque boxes (cracks, tears). Jack the car up and put it on jackstands (under the sfc's, you DO have them dont you?). Let the rear hang down, and then check for side to side and fore and aft movement of the arms. Also, see how easy the rearend is to "move" from side to side, by pushing on the wheels.

Once you've done this, report back with results, so we can help diagnose the problem any better or so we can suggest other things to try.

Regards,

[Severisth]

He is planning to invest in some CN sfc's when he gets the money together :D

But he hasn't run the car on tires and is running high 13s so undoubtedly hasn't torn the car up to Shane standards :p

*edit: mid 13s*

[TTop GT]

hey man com'mon work with me... its a 13.6 at lease give me the mid title not highs :D

[TTop GT]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Blue91
[B]Have you done what the others have suggested and got under the rear of the car and checked side to side movement from your upper and lower control arms? If you are gonna post for help, hehe, go through the troubleshooting steps those that have replied suggest. You wont get it fixed by just talking about it. You need to get up under the car and check things out firsthand.

Check the control arms and the torque boxes (cracks, tears). Jack the car up and put it on jackstands (under the sfc's, you DO have them dont you?). Let the rear hang down, and then check for side to side and fore and aft movement of the arms. Also, see how easy the rearend is to "move" from side to side, by pushing on the wheels.

Once you've done this, report back with results, so we can help diagnose the problem any better or so we can suggest other things to try.

i jacked it up from the pumpkin cause someone has my stands...
i have checked the torque boxes... they look fine
i checked the upper control arms... they are tight
i checked the lowers, inc the sway bar... all seems tight
but when its on the ground... i can push the chassis side to side from underneath and visibly see the difference in space from the quad shock to the tire change in size(distance from shock to tire)

[Blue91]

So when you say the uppers and lowers are tight, what do you mean? The bolts??? The bolts probably WILL be tight. The BUSHINGS very well could not be, and you cant determine that really without having the frame on stands so you can move the housing on it's own.

[TTop GT]

well... the bolts are tight yes... but there is no play in the arm it self... it seems solid and wont move how do i need to check them? oh and what i can see of the bushings look fine

i wouldnt think they would just crap out at once, am i wrong?

[Traceman]

Put it on jack stands on the frame and push the rear side to side and watch the bushings. You may have to push with your feet to get enough force.

[TTop GT]

:p

*edit: mid 13s* [/B][/QUOTE]

Thanks mike!!;)

[Severisth]

Dammit, that puts you in the same class as me, 'cept I'm on good tires! :p