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I feel like I am loosing control of the car; At speeds over 35 my car drifts from side to side really bad could it just be alignment?
Topic Started: Dec 1 2015, 12:01 PM (1,186 Views)
Shawn_g_34
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Okay so here's the deal. I just bought this car last week and it came lowered and I the guy didn't align it afterwards and it has uneven tire wear. So when I bought it I just thought it needed alignment. The problem is when you get at higher speeds it's really hard to keep on the road but I had gotten used to it and I was just trying to limit my driving it until I get it aligned. Today it was raining and I seriously couldn't keep it on the road. I almost pulled off and had my wife come get me because it was so bad. It almost felt like I had a flat tire on the front but I didn't. Some information about that car that could or could not have anything to do with it. The tires on it are horrible. I have new ones to put on it. I am in the process of changing out the springs because the guy who had it before cut them way too short. I finished the back yesterday and am doing the front tomorrow. It does have wheel spacers on the front and 14 inch wheels on the front and stock 13s on the back right now because of the back 2 14 inch tires going bad. Like I said the car has been lowered quite a bit and I am in the process of putting the stock springs back on with only one cool cut off of them because I do like the lowered look. Also today was the first day I had driven it in the rain so maybe that has something to do with it? My question is does it sound like a really bad alignment or something worse?
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nwgeo


Low air in the tires? Loose lug nuts? Maybe tire having the steel belts separating? Yes, and alignment could be off.
Edited by nwgeo, Dec 1 2015, 12:17 PM.
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Metbob


Does it drift or pull to one side and your having to constantly correct?
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snowfish
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Basic GearHead

You pretty much answer your own question.
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...the guy didn't align it afterwards ...uneven tire wear

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The tires on it are horrible

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wheel spacer..14 inch wheels on the front...stock 13s...back...

And we wonder why it handles bad! :lol

Unless you find corrupt frame horns, or other problems while you're changing springs, a Real alignment, on a Hunter alignment rack or equivalent, will do wonders. :drivin
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Shawn_g_34
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Metbob
Dec 1 2015, 12:23 PM
Does it drift or pull to one side and your having to constantly correct?
That's exactly what it does and there feels like there is play in the steering wheel as well. But only when I am rolling. It's also super easy to over correct too, that's where I feel like I am losing control. When I am idling the steering feels tight. It's like I have to hold it perfect to feel okay and as soon as it gets off a little I have a really hard time getting it back on. Oh and I forgot to mention it's a1991 hatch
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Shawn_g_34
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Shawn_g_34
Dec 1 2015, 12:40 PM
Metbob
Dec 1 2015, 12:23 PM
Does it drift or pull to one side and your having to constantly correct?
That's exactly what it does and there feels like there is play in the steering wheel as well. But only when I am rolling. It's also super easy to over correct too, that's where I feel like I am losing control. When I am idling the steering feels tight. It's like I have to hold it perfect to feel okay and as soon as it gets off a little I have a really hard time getting it back on. Oh and I forgot to mention it's a1991 hatch
Alright thanks for easing my mind... I figured everything together could do it but I just wanted to make sure it didn't sound like something else to anyone out there
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smysmbrg
SteveO

Check your tie rods, ball joints, and control arm rubber bushing mounts. Any complete failure in a tie rod or ball joint while moving will be really bad. Maybe have them inspect when you do an alignment
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Shawn_g_34
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smysmbrg
Dec 1 2015, 01:40 PM
Check your tie rods, ball joints, and control arm rubber bushing mounts. Any complete failure in a tie rod or ball joint while moving will be really bad. Maybe have them inspect when you do an alignment
I plan on checking it all when I have the front wheels off in a few days to change the springs and they should check it too when I get it aligned
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pdqrunner


Is the steering wheel straight when driving down the road? If not I would spend some time looking for under body rust before you change the suspension.
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G.O. Joe
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You've gotten some good advice so far, and I believe you'll get to the bottom of it, but while you're checking, don't forget about the rear wheels. On my car, one of the alignment arms for one of the rear wheels became loose and I could feel it drift around while I was driving. It wasn't as severe as what you're describing, but it was very noticeable nonetheless.

Good luck!
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Car Nut
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Like pdqrunner said, check for rusted out frame, etc, before doing any major work on it. If your frame horn is coming loose, it can drive crazy like. Hopefully it's just in need of some minor repairs & alignment.
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Shawn_g_34
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It must have been a combination of rain and all of the minor stuff it needs done to it because I got in it after work and it had dried up and drove it home and it drove as normal as it could. It just felt really out of align. I might have panicked a little bit this morning
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Woodie
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Could just need an alignment and new tires and it could be that the frame is cracked and it's about to kill you. There are about thirty other possibilities somewhere in between those two.

Take it to an alignment/suspension shop and have it checked out. If it needs ball joints or tie rod ends, the time to fix it is when you're doing the springs anyway.
Edited by Woodie, Dec 2 2015, 05:56 AM.
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davegran
Old Fart w/Wrenches

Woodie
Dec 2 2015, 05:56 AM
Could just need an alignment and new tires and it could be that the frame is cracked and it's about to kill you. There are about thirty other possibilities somewhere in between those two.

Take it to an alignment/suspension shop and have it checked out. If it needs ball joints or tie rod ends, the time to fix it is when you're doing the springs anyway.
:gp Please don't blow this off....
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evmetro


My instinct when I read the title of your thread was rusted out mounts for you lower control arm, and when I opened your thread to read it, I immediately looked to see what state you live in to see if you live in the rust belt. I would lay on the ground and eyeball where your lower control arms bolt to your chassis before driving it anywhere, so that you can rule out an extremely dangerous situation. All suspension problems are important for safety, but since Metros are known to fail where the lower control arms bolt on, this has to be done before you do anything else. Your life may depend on checking this. Hopefully your car is not suffering from this notorious failure, but you need to rule it out right away.
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