car sway
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: West Fork AR
car sway
Does anyone know what would make the rear end sway so much? It's been doing it for a long time. I thought maybe it was the bald back tires or needing an alignment. I put firhawks on the back to match the front and no change. I had an alignment done and told them I wanted a performance type alignment. Still no change. I thought well maybe the sidewalls on the firehawks were softer that goodyears so I put goodyears on and it still the same or worse. It almost fells like I'm driving a stationwagon. My wife even feels it. Any help would be appreciated...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 4
From: Henderson Nevada
Exactly what behavior are you experiencing? "Sway" is not enough of a description. Do you mean that the car loses traction in turns and oversteers? Do you mean that under acceleration the car doesn't hook up and you feel a side-to-side movement? Do you mean that while driving at speed in a straight line the car moves from side-to-side? These would all have different causes, some of which might be easily curable, some not.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Providence RI
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,490
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From: Arizona
Does anyone know what would make the rear end sway so much? It's been doing it for a long time. I thought maybe it was the bald back tires or needing an alignment. I put firhawks on the back to match the front and no change. I had an alignment done and told them I wanted a performance type alignment. Still no change. I thought well maybe the sidewalls on the firehawks were softer that goodyears so I put goodyears on and it still the same or worse. It almost fells like I'm driving a stationwagon. My wife even feels it. Any help would be appreciated...
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 63
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From: West Fork AR
Sorry about not giving more info. Everythings stock with 55k. It is terrible in curves. Left or right the rear end sways bad. At speeds of say 50 & up if you turn the wheel back and forth it's like hang on. It sux. When you get up around the century mark it's kinda scary. It almost feels like it has low tires on the back (but it doesn't). Maybe that explains it where you guys can understand what I mean. If not, please ask any questions you might have.
I wish I would have saved the extra $250 difference and stuck with the firehawks...
I wish I would have saved the extra $250 difference and stuck with the firehawks...
Last edited by acridsmoke; Jun 2, 2010 at 12:05 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,436
Likes: 4
From: Everett Wa
It could be anything:
Broken end link, front or rear.
Worn shocks, at 55k you probably are due anyway. Broken rear shock.
Broken leaf spring.
Bushing(s) shot.
Really need to just start looking.
Broken end link, front or rear.
Worn shocks, at 55k you probably are due anyway. Broken rear shock.
Broken leaf spring.
Bushing(s) shot.
Really need to just start looking.
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 354
Likes: 1
i think i know what ure talking about. when i am turning at a light, i give it a little gas in first gear, the rear slides out. i have about 12k miles on my 09. even at low speeds, the rear will slide out depending on which direction u turn without intentionally trying to whip the tail out. im still on stock tires, but the rears are highway miles - no track time, no burnouts, and im 100% stock.
when this occurs do you have it in competitive mode? traction and active handling on? or no traction controls at all?
I get the slide action usually in competitive or with no traction at all. which means i need to learn out to drive the car first then make a call from there.
UPDATE: I went to the dealer and all it needed was an alignment. (do so every 12k miles or once a year...or if u have any issues)
when this occurs do you have it in competitive mode? traction and active handling on? or no traction controls at all?
I get the slide action usually in competitive or with no traction at all. which means i need to learn out to drive the car first then make a call from there.
UPDATE: I went to the dealer and all it needed was an alignment. (do so every 12k miles or once a year...or if u have any issues)
Last edited by stockticker; Jun 2, 2010 at 07:06 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: West Fork AR
Imagine having low back tires on any vehicle. If you know how that feels then you have an idea of what I'm talking about. Nanny's on or off doesn't make any difference in this situation. Like when your taking a curve you turn the wheel. Well as soon as I turn the wheel the rear ends sways the opposite way. I'm not talking about sliding around corners. It grips but there's way too much sway. I'm talking about taking them not even speeding. I realize it's normal to have a small amount of sway, but this is excessive.
I have a dodge ram and yeah it has body roll on a curve, but the rear doesn't feel like it has low tires.
I'm trying to make everyone understand what I mean, but I guess I'm not doing a very good job of it.
I have a dodge ram and yeah it has body roll on a curve, but the rear doesn't feel like it has low tires.
I'm trying to make everyone understand what I mean, but I guess I'm not doing a very good job of it.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,331
Likes: 18
From: Missouri City Texas
Get under the car and start looking at the suspension in the back to look for loose/missing bolts.
My car was stock rear suspension and when I went to put on my Z06 swaybars I found that the lower nut to hold the swaybar on was gone and the bolt had almost completely worked itself out
My car was stock rear suspension and when I went to put on my Z06 swaybars I found that the lower nut to hold the swaybar on was gone and the bolt had almost completely worked itself out
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 4
From: Henderson Nevada
Several good suggestions have been posted. From what you describe, I'd think that it has to do with something loose in the rear suspension, including end links, axle nuts, etc. It also could be alignment. Improper camber can cause reduced traction in turns. If what you are feeling is a 'wiggle' under power in a turn, it is possibly just the interaction of the limited slip diff and traction control with a slight loss of traction - this could be exacerbated by something loose. Stickier tires would likely help, but depending on the streets where you live, it may be impossible to eliminate.
Around here, oil gets baked into the streets, and there is little available traction at any intersection (where cars idle and drip oil). Even with traction control on, I can feel some of the slippage under anything but the slightest throttle openings.
Around here, oil gets baked into the streets, and there is little available traction at any intersection (where cars idle and drip oil). Even with traction control on, I can feel some of the slippage under anything but the slightest throttle openings.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,024
Likes: 13
From: Loveland CO to Central Coast CA
An experienced Tech should be able to fix it. So take it to a dealer or a shop that specializes in suspensions. Describe the problem and let them drive it.
Unless there's something seriously wrong (like frame damage), I bet this will be relatively easy to fix. Might even be low cost.
But I suspect it's gonna cost some $$$ to make it right. Or, you could always trade for something that handles better... like a Camry or Accord. Sorry, couldn't resist.
Let us know what happens.
