Got a little issue I could use help on before I go throwing money around. The car seems to want to, go back and forth (side to side) both ways, while driving.
I know the alignment is off to the right, preaty good to.
But say on the interestate, the car seems sloppy, wants to wander all over. Its like seeing that person on a cell phone in front of you distracted, lol, you know what I mean.
I want to finally get it state inspected come spring, I know something has an issue, and they are real big on suspension/steering during yearly inspection here.

Done, but with same issue before install, front struts. Thats it for up front and same in rear new struts. But the issue was the same, and there before.
No bars, ect, look visually bent, but it is below zero here, right now its (-11) and looking can only last 10 min, cause its freakin COLD OUT HERE.
Suggestions? Thoughts?

 

If your alignment is really far off, your car will definitely wander around on the freeway. I got a fresh set of new tires, went and got the car aligned immediately after, and the car started wandering right away. I checked after about 1000 miles how my front tires were wearing, and they were literally bald on the inside and almost to the metal.

 

I drive my RX7 on interstate 89 quite a lot. Are you sure the problem you're experiencing is not the road. In many places on 89, the large trucks have indented the pavement. Since my car isn't the same width as an 18 wheeler, the car pulls back and forth between the grooves.

By the way, PM me. Perhaps I can meet with you to see what it feels like.

Doug

 

If you know your alignment is that far out, why not have it done anyway? Could solve your problem as well...

 

you know what your problem is, fix it.

take a look at my post: https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/vibration-problem-suggestions-%2A%2Ahelp%2A%2A-942051/

 

i have the same problem with my car, 91 vert. i took it to wheel works.. them bezzy's didnt do SH**! i cant believe they even would align a car the way it is. the car still sways side to side..

did you check

wheel bearings
ball joints
and outer tie rods.

im sure those will mostly affect the alignment. i have yet to replace them on my car. do you know how to check them?

 

Thanks all for the replies.
The tires seem to be wearing evenly, but then again since I put the tires on, its only see 2-300 miles. Winter started here and I put it away in the garage. Wasn't driving due to salt/snow. But got brave when it was in the negative numbers for temp, no roads were wet, so the car wouldn't get all salty plus I was dying to drive it again after 4 months sitting.

iamsisyphus
I drive on interstate 91 all the time. This portion of interstate just got paved last year. They paved 30+ miles of this road, it happens on ALL roads though. How far are you from Saint Johnsbury, VT? Just overall sloppy feeling while driving. No weird noises while driving/cornering.

I haven't gotten an alignment as the car has been in the garage since late october because of winter, though I am going to get it in spring. Seems to wander way to much just due to an alignment.

Ball joints, tie rods, I have new just haven't installed them, until spring. Just wondering if it could be something bigger than those.

 

best thing to do is check.

lift the front of the car up, get those wheels off the ground, then you grab the tire, and try to move it back and forth, with one hand on top of the tire, and one on the bottom. if you feel any "play" or if it does move a bit, then you need wheel bearings..

now to check your ball joints or tie rods, grab the tire on the left and right side now, and try to move the tire back and forth. if there is play, then that tells you you have bad ball joints OR something else is goin out, ie tie rod ends..

and if you have bad wheel bearings, its goin to be kinda hard to check or notice if your ball joints are bad, but this should point you in the right direction.. dont worry, i got to deal with this **** too this weekend

 

I'm 98% positive that the wheel bearings can simply be re-packed and adjusted to eliminate camber play. No need to replace, UNLESS there is significant wear in the race or rollers.

 

Wheel bearings do go bad, y'know... and if they're causing enough camber to be a problem, or if they're causing the car to weave down the road (which can happen with bad wheel bearings), then it's time for new bearings. Why? Because when they're riding crooked it wears on them unevenly and will do damage to them MUCH quicker.

 

I had a bad rack, bearings, control arms and had lots of steering wheel play. Fixed all of those. It still pulled. Got the alignment. It was all good. Replace your parts with what you have and get the alignment. You should be good.

 

Thanks all Ill get outside when it gets into the 20's degree range, and Ill replace the ball joints, tie rods. Ill see if it makes it a lil better till I get it in for an alignment.
I also do think that a wheel bearing/s are on the way out, I do hear a little whinning noise. Are both front and rear pressed in? Or just front? Ill do them all if I do any. Seems kinda pointless to do just one, cause if 1 is gone, then its probably a matter of time for the rest of them with 120K miles on them.

 

there old cars. I personally plan on replacing all my bushings, tie rods, ball joints, wheel bearings on my 86 just for piece of mind. I'll be upgrading some parts for aftermarket units suited to drifting. if I don't replace everything now, I'll have to in a little bit anyway. 140k miles on her and climbing.

 

I jack up one side at a time and have someone rock the wheel side to side while I'm underneath looking at the tie rods and anything else that pivots to see if there is any slack. The ball joints I have always had someone place a bar under the tire and apply pressure up and then letting off the pressure which will show what slack you have in the ball joint. Then do the other side. I recently had an allignment done along with some new tires put on and they charged me but never did the allignment.

 

I hope you put it on jack stands to get under the car...

 

I jack up one side at a time and have someone rock the wheel side to side while I'm underneath looking at the tie rods and anything else that pivots to see if there is any slack. The ball joints I have always had someone place a bar under the tire and apply pressure up and then letting off the pressure which will show what slack you have in the ball joint. Then do the other side. I recently had an allignment done along with some new tires put on and they charged me but never did the allignment.

 

Doesn't sound like it.

That would be on one of those "Worlds dumbest" shows. Guy crawls under car with aluminum jack, and wham.
"well its a small car and can't weigh much.." LOL

Imagine the commentary.

I'm usually the one that has jack stands and my rims and tires under car in case. **** the rims and tires, thats my body under there. Useless I know, but man if the freak accident where to happen, those rims and tires just might save me. Just me always looking outside the box.