Thread: Car jerks around while driving

Hi WingmanSR20, I also want to have time and money to do it all at once.

When mine did it after a new rack and pinion I was confused. it would also knock when rocking it to the right. After about 3 years with this problem I found out it was a worn out and downright lazy tie rod. Both your tie rods may be gone.

Inner tie rods BTW.

I have been catching my car doing the same thing at higher speeds as it is much easier for me to notice it. A sudden shift to the left and nothing more. It does not pull left consistently, it pulls left for a quick second and drive straight again.

All of this is bushing related I believe. I know my alignment is good. I know my tires are balanced properly and they are properly inflated. Something is shifting and settling quickly in my suspension and it is a nuisance. Thanks for the ideas in this thread.

fyi, my issue is control arm bushings.

Well I checked my tie rods, they are nice and tight. I checked all my bushings, they are good.

I think the steering rack has the play in it. I do not think it is the alignment, but it could be.

I have noticed this in the past three weeks. The steering wheel has "slop" in it while on-center. I move the wheel back and forth but get no response. I think this is causing my problems. I lose the steering, over adjust, and turn the car sharply left or right.

I am gonna get some energy suspension rack and pinion bushings and see if this fixes it.

Alright, new "symptom" since the thread is what it is, it seems relevant.

The car jerks to the left while I give her a good go at the throttle, it will pull to the left. It goes back to the right when I let off the throttle completely. So this pull occurs when I go heavy throttle and let off the throttle quickly. Slight pull to the left and to the right during both actions of heavy accel and quick let off of the throttle.

What is causing this? I have not had an alignment in over 60,000 miles, but it was fine until this started a few weeks ago. Bushings are good, tie-rods are good. Tires are balanced and last I knew my alignment was good. My tires are rubbing off perfectly as they have been since I did that alignment. My tire pressures are balanced on both sides.

It sounds like torque steer in your case.

I have the same problem but under very light throttle in a ga16 powered car. I don't think torque steer is the cause of it for me. Still trying to figure this one out.

There cannot be that much torque....is that possible with a DE and cams?

Yes that is possible. All you need is enough torque. Any FWD car will torque steer given the right inputs and conditions.

The car I'm currently driving is having very similar problems to some of you. I will investigate further tomorrow, but I also need to replace both front axles and wheel bearings, which I'm thinking is currently the problem I have with the car pulling left or right at highway speeds.