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Car wanders on highway - suspension/steering related?

chatbreaker

chatbreaker

New member
Aright, I just got done installing two new wheel hubs and both outer tie rod ends. Took about 2 hours start to finish, plus extra time to chop out a stripped bolt on the driver's side hub. Car's quiet, and the steering is much more responsive now (old tie rod ends were far beyond shot) and now I have a new issue

Took the car on the highway and the steering kind of pulls me all over the lane. It feels like tie rod ends are loose, but I checked for play in the steering and there is none. I noticed that when I removed the driver's side tie rod, it required 15 turns to remove, and the passenger required only 14, but that might have been due to a previous alignment, I'm not sure.

I'm going to be taking the car in for an alignment check some time this week, and have them "give me a quote for anything they find wrong" which really means they're just going to be giving me a shopping list ^_^. Of course, once all the parts are replaced, I'll be getting an alignment done.

Also, it's probably worth noting, the inside of the passenger tire is worn down almost to the belts. I know that the passenger side sway bar end was snapped off, so I replaced the sway bar with new bushings and end links last week.

Is it possible that this "wandering" is suspension related, or is it more likely steering related? Could the inner tie rod ends be worn out as well?

Thanks.


Also: Moderator, I didn't see a steering section in the forums, but if there is one, please move this thread to the appropriate location. Thanks.
 


Uhhh you replaced tie rods and haven't done an alignment and are asking why the car is pulling or wandering.... not to mention adding a bald tire to the mix....not sure if serious :confused:
 
The tire is worn because of your old tie rods probably, get an alignment before you do more damage to your tires. If you still have wandering check your LCA bushings. Well actually check your LCA bushings before the alignment because if you need to replace them best to have it all aligned afterwards.

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I know I should get an alignment, but I still have other suspension parts to replace, plus it's going to need new tires within a month. I would really like to hold off until after I replace the rest of the parts and get new tires before I get the alignment done. I was just wondering if there was something short-term I could change to fix the wandering, but like I expected, it sounds like an alignment is pretty much the only option. Oh well, at least it's only $59 for an alignment.
 
Well you can see if the toe is noticeable off and try to correct it the best you can

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I'd say just get the alignment, from what i've seen a lot of places give you a year and like 10000 miles after your alignment to do it again for free. If you don't want to get it done twice then just wait and make it work until you can get everything done.
 
Just spend the $60 and get it aligned or else just deal with it meanwhile if it bothers u enough you'll spend the money.
 
I paid 89.95 for a stealership alignment, 60 is a deal assuming they do a good job. I think the dealership failed to get my wheel centered....

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That's bs lol should matter if it's lowered or not a alignment is a alignment regardless most be a Atlanta thing.
 
Ya its all these damn stanced imports lol.. Every shop I've gone to charges more for lowered/performance suspension vehicles. . It's BS for sure!.
 
it's normally 79 for an alignment but the shop I usually get an alignment at is having a special, $59 alignment with a coupon. I might get that done this weekend.
 


chatbreaker said:
I know I should get an alignment, but I still have other suspension parts to replace, plus it's going to need new tires within a month. I would really like to hold off until after I replace the rest of the parts and get new tires before I get the alignment done. I was just wondering if there was something short-term I could change to fix the wandering, but like I expected, it sounds like an alignment is pretty much the only option. Oh well, at least it's only $59 for an alignment.
Click to expand...

Change the driver. Then an alignment would happen and there would be no reason for a ... "I poured gas on myself and lit a match, why am I on fire" type question.
 
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