Dangerous Handling

[Timmer205 0]

Hello,

 

I was wondering if anyone can help me with this. Was driving the car (in the rain) and in two instances, neither of which was I going too fast as I was following traffic, the back end of the car stepped out and I almost lost control. This even occurs in the dry at slow speeds.

 

The steering has gone completely light, like I now have power steering and the car is very unstable around any bend.

 

Has anybody elese had this? Is it likely to be a steering or suspension issue?

 

Any help would be great.

 

Tim

[dee205 3]

What's you tires like? Could also be an alignment issue. Check both.

[johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars]

agree with above, i had a similar feeling once and turned out my tracking was considerably toeing out and killed the inside of the tyres, but they looked fine from the side of the car, it wasnt untill i saw them from the rear of the car when i was underneath it that i realised! i had about 5mm of tread on the outside and nearly slick on the inside!

Edited December 12, 2009 by johnnyboy666

[Baz 421]

Rear beam seized?

[boombang 2]

Rear beam seized?

Just what I was thinking!

[Timmer205 0]

Just what I was thinking!

 

 

Any thoughts on how I could confirm this? Is it an expensive fix?

 

Cheers

[boombang 2]

Get someone to stand in the boot and jump up and down.

 

Should be loads of movement, nice and smooth, no noises. If anything dubious at all, need to strip and rebuild. TBH if never been rebuilt chances are it'll be knackered.

 

Can be an expensive fix and MOT failure, not to mention dangerous.

[Baz 421]

The mounts could be nackered alone too, this causes some rather special handling as they'll be allowing the beam to be moving around alot! Probably less common and likely though.

[Anthony 1,002]

A severely ovalled hub where the balljoint pin sits (or very loose balljoint clamp bolt) can cause this as well.

[Baz 421]

A severely ovalled hub where the balljoint pin sits (or very loose balljoint clamp bolt) can cause this as well.

 

But surely not have a massive effect on the rear at low speeds?

[oz. 2]

But surely not have a massive effect on the rear at low speeds?

 

I found when one of my wishbone bolts was loose (almost falling out) and letting the wheel move about it did feel as though i had LOO scary going round corners at 60 and you have to give it a bit of oppo

[Anthony 1,002]

But surely not have a massive effect on the rear at low speeds?

If it's bad enough it will, yes, as it'll violently swerve/snatch mid-bend and unsettle the rear - especially coupled with other issues like poor tyres, knackered beam mounts etc.

[davev 1]

ive had it reciently where my resr tyres were almost flat(10psi) caused loo at very low speeds. only on a wet road though.

 

it wouldnt cause light steering though. quite the oppersite.

[Timmer205 0]

Thanks for all the responses.

 

Have jumped in the boot and there is a little movement in the suspension - the previous owner put really stiff Koni shocks in so I don't know if there's a difference from before.

 

Tyres all look fine - may have to go to a garage for diagnosis.

 

If there is a suspension issue, does anybody recommend getting it lowered by 30mm at the same time for asthetics/handling?

 

Cheers

Edited December 13, 2009 by Timmer205

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

If there is a suspension issue, does anybody recommend getting it lowered by 30mm at the same time for asthetics/handling?

Cheers

 

Easy up front but if the beam has never been 'seviced' then you may find out it will be wise to before any lowering happens.

[oz. 2]

Whip off the dampers - 10 min job then jump up and down on it. The car should move more than 2"

[boombang 2]

Don't even have to completely remove, just undo the bottom bolt.