Thread: car drifts on the highway

like the title says, my car has been doing this for a little while, i found a bad hub, changed that and it helped a ton.

but it still there. i just had the car jacked up and went over all the front end parts, other then a torn up sway bar bushing, everything looks and feels tight.

but with both wheels off the ground if a good push pull is done to either tire i hear and feel a clunk. the rack is tight and not moving at all.

oh and with the car on the ground, if i have the car off, turn the key to run, so the wheel is free, and rock the wheel back and fourth with my hand on the tire, i think im feeling play as i can feel its not tight.

this all kinda leads me to my rack having slop in it, kinda like a bad steering box would feel.

any thoughts? is this kinda thing fixable?

oh, the lca's are new, 4,000 or so miles old, new d/s inner tir rod, both new outer tie rods, and pass side hub as well, and a new sway bar. used rack installed a year or so ago.

none of the rods have play.

those are 2 years old as well, changed them when i first got the car.

and i only have a small clunk, ( hardly ever hear it) and i believe that to be the blown out sway bar bushing.

other than that it makes no noise.

Originally Posted by reesez

just saying. the rack i think has an adjustment for gear play.....

i know you can do this for a p/s box, but not sure about the rack and pinion being tightened up like that.

little update:

i was checking tire pressure today and rested my hand on the top of the front tire, and the treads that run around the tire are worn unevenly, each tread ring has a sharp outer edge to them, both fronts.

the car felt much better after the new hub but over time started to drift more and more.

after finding the odd wear, i rotated the tires.

now my wheel is off about 1/2 inch to the left off center from where it was before, ( dead straight) but it does not drift any more. and feels solid at highway speed.

now i know this is not the fix. something is off. the whole front end short of the struts is new. it was just aligned with the new front tires. maybe 6 months ago.

and when i look at my front end from a distance i can see clearly the wheels seem to have to much camber, the rears look like they are straight up and down. the fronts look top side in more. tucked a bit if you will.

daytime bump....

it could be the track bars scott, that go from wheel to wheel.

check the threads on them and make sure they aren't stripped or the lock nut is loose

what track bar? the rears?

its all in the front end, if i would ride a line in the pavement it would be all over that crack, ( like hold the F on) both sides of the car did this, with front tire uneven wear.

Ohh sorry, guess I didn't read far enough in, i see drifting and I assume ass end slide..

My bad

i also thought so, the ass is ugly under there but everything is tight, and the rear wheels are straight up and down vs the fronts.

idk if i need camber gears put in or just new struts. the rear sags, the fronts are holding the car up good still and dont appear to be shot, they pass the 3 bounce test if you push the car down, i get 1 bounce and its stops moving. same as the rears.

Originally Posted by scottydoggs

i also thought so, the ass is ugly under there but everything is tight, and the rear wheels are straight up and down vs the fronts.

idk if i need camber gears put in or just new struts. the rear sags, the fronts are holding the car up good still and dont appear to be shot, they pass the 3 bounce test if you push the car down, i get 1 bounce and its stops moving. same as the rears.

Who did your alignment, ide have them recheck it

theres no camber adjustment, they just do what they can, toe in and out, thats pretty much all they can do without installing camber bolts. as i understand it.

Correct, toe and go for GP's.

Cost extra for camber bolts, but I'd never adjust camber unless it was way the **** out, it hardly affects tire wear on these cars from what I see.

Originally Posted by GPTAFan

that sounds like toe wear to me.. IIRC

the uneven wear of the treads?

Un-even wear on the treads can come from the tires being seperated or when you see it in the rear because the tire is almost hopping up and down on the road.

looks like it off to find a new alignment shop. maybe its time to get one of them 4 wheel electronic jobs. you know with all the lasers and a computer.