Loose front end / swerving / strange cornering problem.

[wackawacka]

Ok so my car has had this problem for a while now. And I have done all I can think of to correct it. I have stance gr+ coilovers, non- blown. I have replaced my FLCA's, my TC rod bushings, and tie rod inner and outer. Had a 4 wheel allignment and wheel balance. My tire pressure is even and the tires are in normal condition.

My problem is that at high speeds on the highway or anything near or over 55 it will swerve on its own from side to side. If I am cornering it will start to turn almost as it normally would and then go into an almost "Super Turning" mode where it cuts more sharply without a proportional sharp cut on the wheel. Also I have noticed that under very hard braking it will pull to the left and on hard acceleration it will pull to the right.

Steering Bushing? Has anyone had experience with this $hit. Im really getting tired of throwing parts at this.

Thanks for any help

[ashibah83]

what is your caster set at???low caster #'s could cause your car to wander and turn EXTREMLY quickly

[Didderson]

I think you have an alignment issue. Seems like you're running 0 toe in the front, which can cause it to wander at high speeds

If that's not it then I'm stumped.

[wackawacka]

I had just gotten it alligned tuesday. They said everything was close to spec except camber, because my car is slammed. It was at a nissan stealership.

[ghx407]

After checking for even air pressure in the tires, I would suggest you check for play in the steering rack.

A little play in the steering rack due to worn bushings can result in some weird steering issues.

Don't lift any part of the car. Just park it and have someone turn the steering wheel both ways while you check if the steering rack shifts from side to side. If the steering rack shifts its bushings need replacement.
Modified by ghx407 at 2:09 PM 4/29/2009

[Didderson]

Listening; interesting to hear if the rack is the problem.

[IanS]

You need to take your car somewhere else for an alignment.

The dealership is unlikely to have either the know how, or the patience to set the alignment on something that has had the geometry so screwed up.

Things like wheel width, offset, setback, castor, camber, toe, SAI, and thrust all need to be taken into consideration, and factory specs are no longer sufficient. Looking at the printout for my alignment most people would think I'm crazy, every angle is red. I spent over an hour adjusting every angle to my prefered settings.

[wackawacka]

After checking for even air pressure in the tires, I would suggest you check for play in the steering rack.

Modified by ghx407 at 2:09 PM 4/29/2009

Good suggestion. Will try this. Thanks.

You need to take your car somewhere else for an alignment.

Can I come to your house? lol. Took them 3 hours they should have figured it out. But seriously, i dont know where else I would take it... as far as people being competent with lowered cars.

[IanS]

Can I come to your house? lol. Took them 3 hours they should have figured it out. But seriously, i dont know where else I would take it... as far as people being competent with lowered cars.

Haul your butt to St Paul, and I will throw it up on the alignment rack at work, and go nuts. NicoClub discount $59.95.

As for finding somewhere capable of dealing with a modified car, you have two options. Im sure there are lots of automotive enthusiasts working at auto repair shops in your area. You just need to find a local import geek with access to an alignment rack.

Or you could go to a pro. They hold autoXs everywhere, the guys who race at said autoXs are always anal about their alignments, so they always know "that guy". Chances are, there is a race alignment guru with a rack in his barn or a warehouse somewhere in your area. Guys like this live and breath alignments, and if you want your car aligned right, he is the guy to do it.

Here in MN, if you ask anybody with a race car, they all give the same name, Jeff. Jeff the alignment guy started with a rack in his garage. He spent his nights aligning racecars, but after a while the neighbours got annoyed by loud cars showing up at odd hours so he moved into a shop of his own. He was so good at making cars fast on track that his hobby turned into a career. I would bet if you ask around, there is another geek like Jeff somewhere near you.

[wackawacka]

HAHA. ok give me like 30 hours to drive out there...

I don't ever race my car though, so I dont know anyone now that really lives and breaths alignments or even suspension. I guess I could ask about the "scene" around here, but alot of import stuff here is just rice.

Im not trying to shut down your insight, or even suggest that my alignment is not f-ed up somehow, but my car has been lowered like this for 2 years and this problem has only started to show up within the past 2 months. Before that I really didnt notice anything weird except slightly uneven tread wear(obviously).

Next time I have my car up in MN I will definitely hit up your NICO special

I would love to have someone who cares about / understands my car working on it instead of the jokers stealership.