Car sway

[michaelandersen42]

What should I look into replacing next a bad car sway going over bumps and especially going anything over 55 I replaced my swaybar links already

 

[zippypcs]

How many miles? How are the shocks/struts? Have you had the alignment checked? These little cars tend to kinda bob and sway on stock springs.

 

[michaelandersen42]

How many miles? How are the shocks/struts? Have you had the alignment checked? These little cars tend to kinda bob and sway on stock springs.

149000 an it’s like it’ll grab once it hits a bump an sway right to it, an shocks an struts seem fine

 

[zippypcs]

Ok so now I would check lower control arms. They are known to fail.

 

[zippypcs]

I have completely rebuilt the entire suspension on one of these . I have seen all of the parts fail at one point or another. Maybe Michigan roads are just really cruel.

 

[michaelandersen42]

Ok thank you what should I be looking for exactly

I have completely rebuilt the entire suspension on one of these . I have seen all of the parts fail at one point or another. Maybe Michigan roads are just really cruel.

 

[zippypcs]

Movement in the lower control arms. A large bushing where it meets the frame towards the front and back of the control arm. I would check the movement of inner and outer tie rods as well. These cars have electric steering so the steering wheel is not attached other than by wire. Kinda weird but shouldnt make it sway after a bump. So you are looking for a mechanical part that is worn or loose.

 

[michaelandersen42]

Movement in the lower control arms. A large bushing where it meets the frame towards the front and back of the control arm. I would check the movement of inner and outer tie rods as well. These cars have electric steering so the steering wheel is not attached other than by wire. Kinda weird but shouldnt make it sway after a bump. So you are looking for a mechanical part that is worn or loose.

Should I be checking anything out in the rear of the car.

 

[zippypcs]

Basically you have 2 shocks and springs with a swing arm in the back. Make sure you dont have anything broken and far as mounts. The shocks bolt to the bottom of the swing arm. Trailing axle kinda. So there shouldn't be other than up down movement there. What you describing should be an easy look see. If there is that much movement something is loose or worn. If you were close by I would look for you.

 

[michaelandersen42]

Basically you have 2 shocks and springs with a swing arm in the back. Make sure you dont have anything broken and far as mounts. The shocks bolt to the bottom of the swing arm. Trailing axle kinda. So there shouldn't be other than up down movement there. What you describing should be an easy look see. If there is that much movement something is loose or worn. If you were close by I would look for you.

So I looked through the whole front end and the rear nothing loose or noticeably wrong everything is tight an doesn't look worn out

 

[zippypcs]

Well if you feel sure that nothing is wrong, then maybe have a shop just check it out. Sometimes things maybe are not obvious. We all need a little help sometimes so I would have like a tire store that has alignment machines take a look for you.

 

[michaelandersen42]

Ok thank you for the help it means a lot!!

Well if you feel sure that nothing is wrong, then maybe have a shop just check it out. Sometimes things maybe are not obvious. We all need a little help sometimes so I would have like a tire store that has alignment machines take a look for you.

 

[zippypcs]

Did you test out the motor mounts to see if they are weak? I dont know that it would cause it to sway left or right but may be worth a look. The motor mount on the RH side of the engine is known to fail.

 

[zippypcs]

This is an auto or stick?
I am just having a hard time visualizing this thing going over a bump and swaying one way or another.
I dont know if factory springs get weak enough after 150k to be weak and cause sway. I replaced mine with drops at about 20k so I have ridden on short stiff springs only. My new one will most likely get a set of drops as I like the stiffer feel VS> factory feel. Becomes more go kart like

 

[Smit999]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions - real helpful

 

[macdiesel]

Shake down the front end. Jack it up and pull and push. Take the load off the ball joint and check for movement. Depending on the miles, you might want to replace most everything up front instead of pin pointing the exact problem.