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Thread: Car jerks around while driving

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Posts: 1-10 of 29
2010-05-28 23:40:31
#1
Car jerks around while driving
For a while now, my car has been "shifting" left and right randomly on the freeway. Not in a huge way, but enough to be seen. I found my sway bar end links were shot, and replaced them, but the problem is still there. Everything else under the car is still in good shape, and nothing was loose.

What else could it be? This is starting to throw me for a loop, and it's annoying having to correct the steering every now and then on the freeway because the car wants to pull right and then go back to normal.
2010-05-29 00:10:20
#2
unless your allignment is way out of wack it sounds like you have more loose parts

does it pull when you let off the gas at higher speeds, like 70+?
2010-05-29 00:31:15
#3
My b14 does the same thing. Is torque steer more pronounced too?

My power steering rack has been disconnected for a while now so maybe it's the rack wearing out.

Just a guess. I haven't touched my swaybar either.
2010-05-29 04:33:14
#4
Rear trailing arm bushings cause this. Give them a look.
ball joints.. tie rod ends/inner.. another good place to look.
2010-05-30 01:42:57
#5
rack or alignment
2010-05-30 22:03:39
#6
Check your castor bushings at the ends of your control bars. When they wear out steering becomes a new and unpleasant experience. Been there, hated it. Replaced them and steering was spot on with no pulling. This was after I replaced the entire steering rack with a rebuilt one from NAPA and the problem was still there even with new bushings throughout.
2010-05-31 19:44:41
#7
Another weekend at the races, and more talk over beer leads me to believe I need to replace the control arm bushings, re-balance my tires, and get an alignment. I'll check the trailing arm bushings too. While I don't think that's the issue, it's always worth a look.

skcusloa, you've got it. It does in fact change based on my throttle, and is more prominent at higher speeds. It's to the point where I can predict when and how it's going to affect my steering. When the back is loaded down, though, it gets more unpredictable.

I'll get back on when I get control arm bushings and an alignment. Hopefully that solves it. This has been going on since February, so I'm ready for it to go away and never come back
2010-05-31 20:05:18
#8
At this point i would replace all the bushings you can afford to do. On cars of these age, they are literally all shot, or ready to go. Just a fact of life for old rubber.. know what i mean? Eventually you'll have to do others.

That's what i'm doing for my car. All front end bushings in a week, then rear when i can afford it. I want my car to ride like it did in 1996 when the first owner bought it

Oh, and mevotech makes some interesting bushings, they are sort of a softer polyurethane. Sounds like a nice compromise between squeaky 'energy suspension' parts and stock.
2010-05-31 20:42:05
#9
You check to see if one of your ball joints' crown nuts has come loose? This will cause the knuckle to rise and fall on the bolt ever so slightly causeing the steering to shift left or right slightly when under load.
2010-06-01 00:55:36
#10
Originally Posted by neptronix
At this point i would replace all the bushings you can afford to do. On cars of these age, they are literally all shot, or ready to go. Just a fact of life for old rubber.. know what i mean? Eventually you'll have to do others.

That's what i'm doing for my car. All front end bushings in a week, then rear when i can afford it. I want my car to ride like it did in 1996 when the first owner bought it

Oh, and mevotech makes some interesting bushings, they are sort of a softer polyurethane. Sounds like a nice compromise between squeaky 'energy suspension' parts and stock.

My thought too. If I only had the time/money I'd do it all at once. I'm sure by summer's end, though, I'll have completely redone the entire suspension
Originally Posted by zer099
You check to see if one of your ball joints' crown nuts has come loose? This will cause the knuckle to rise and fall on the bolt ever so slightly causeing the steering to shift left or right slightly when under load.

Ball joints are ok. First thing I looked at.
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