Nervous front end
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 3
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Nervous front end
I have had an 07 for a year now with 60k & find the front end moves around-nervous on rougher roads, on curves with bumps it skates around and is not planted. Is this normal and just giving a better feel of the road? Everything is tight, ball joint, tie rods etc so I don't think there is an issue there. Im thinking possibly the shocks may need replacing, not sure is there is a steering dampener type function built into the rack or elsewhere. Any though or experience? Thanks
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
Also, double check the age of the tires from the last 4 digits on the Do code, since tires start to go out of round about year 6, with the rubber on the tires going hard about year 5.
Hence the tire below was made between March 19, 2012 and March 25, 2012
If the tires are still in good condition, and less than say 4 years old, then have the tires road forced balanced when your having the alignment checked. This will not only get the tires balance correctly, but will check for the rim that may be bent and needs to be straightened, or the tires out of round as well.
If the tires are older than say 4+ years old, then its time to replace them isntead.
Also, with the age and mileage on the shocks, may be time to replace them as well.
Next thing, and get the car on level ground and measure the fender wheel wheel lips front and back to the ground, and post the measurements back here. Also get a good look at the condition of the ride height adjusters where it contacts the bottom a arms, and see if they are falling apart on the bottom of them and need to be replaced too.
As for the last item, check the wheel hubs for play. Hence not normal for a DD to have the wheel hubs go south at 60K, but it can happen.
Hence the tire below was made between March 19, 2012 and March 25, 2012
If the tires are still in good condition, and less than say 4 years old, then have the tires road forced balanced when your having the alignment checked. This will not only get the tires balance correctly, but will check for the rim that may be bent and needs to be straightened, or the tires out of round as well.
If the tires are older than say 4+ years old, then its time to replace them isntead.
Also, with the age and mileage on the shocks, may be time to replace them as well.
Next thing, and get the car on level ground and measure the fender wheel wheel lips front and back to the ground, and post the measurements back here. Also get a good look at the condition of the ride height adjusters where it contacts the bottom a arms, and see if they are falling apart on the bottom of them and need to be replaced too.
As for the last item, check the wheel hubs for play. Hence not normal for a DD to have the wheel hubs go south at 60K, but it can happen.
Last edited by Dano523; Jul 24, 2018 at 05:16 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,488
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From: Sausalito CA
Nervous.
Um, I guess the free things would be:
1) Check the suspension bolts, hubs, sway bar bushing etc to ensure everything is torqued and the suspension rubber is not worn out.
2) Make sure the shocks are not bottoming out (lowering issues as mentioned)
3) Play with your tire pressure
4) Insure all four tires are a matched set, in proper sizes and not hardened (aged out).
5) Bleed your power steering fluid.
6) Look to the rear suspension also.
7) Inspect motor mounts?
Then the cost items:
1) New Shocks.
2) New Tie Rods
3) New Hubs
4) New Steering Rack
6) New Bushings
7) Other, Etc.
All FWIW.
Good luck.
Um, I guess the free things would be:
1) Check the suspension bolts, hubs, sway bar bushing etc to ensure everything is torqued and the suspension rubber is not worn out.
2) Make sure the shocks are not bottoming out (lowering issues as mentioned)
3) Play with your tire pressure
4) Insure all four tires are a matched set, in proper sizes and not hardened (aged out).
5) Bleed your power steering fluid.
6) Look to the rear suspension also.
7) Inspect motor mounts?
Then the cost items:
1) New Shocks.
2) New Tie Rods
3) New Hubs
4) New Steering Rack
6) New Bushings
7) Other, Etc.
All FWIW.
Good luck.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 303
Likes: 72
From: Arizona
#1) Check tire wear. Worn out tires or unevenly worn tires will do that. Check both front and rear and make sure the wear is consistent front to back. Also, make sure they are similar style / brand front to rear. A difference in grip can make the car feel jittery.
#2) Alignment. My guess is zero toe. Slightly inward tow will make the car track straighter and more resistant to turning. Zero or slightly outward toe will make the front end feel like it is super responsive to overly responsive and give you that "darting around" feel.
#2) Alignment. My guess is zero toe. Slightly inward tow will make the car track straighter and more resistant to turning. Zero or slightly outward toe will make the front end feel like it is super responsive to overly responsive and give you that "darting around" feel.