Front End Wanders at Highway Speeds
#1
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I bought my 96 C4 two years ago and it is my daily driver. Over the past six months, it has begun feeling very loose when driving straight at highway speeds -- it wanders and requires constant correction to keep it going straight. Having been a heavy truck mechanic specializing in front end alignments (MANY years ago), I understand the effects of camber, caster and toe-in, and of worn ball joints and rod ends. I haven't looked at the front suspension of my car, but am about to and am wondering if anyone has any ideas of what might be causing my car to wander the way it does. I'd really appreciate your inputs before I get under the car and take a look. Many thanks.
#5
Drifting
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Potential culprit list: tire wear/pressure, alignment, front control arm bushings (search here for many threads on the latter. Search terms: front control arm bushings, Walrod bushings, ERP bushings, Elephant Racing Products)
#6
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I vote tie rods. They are a two piece unit and can wear out over time. When they do a lot of play in the tie rod results. An easy item to check.
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#10
Nordschleife Master
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My car used to feel rock solid at xx mph, but about 20 mph above that, the front started to feel a little lighter. The only thing I have changed since then is new tires. It is once again rock solid at higher speed.
#11
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Whatever the problem you need to get it looked at, could be something serious. If tyres are good I would suspect control arm bushes, track rods will tend to give vibrating feedback though the wheel.
#12
Drifting
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If everything checks out good, alignment can be very difficult to get "right" on these vehicles. By saying "right" I mean it can be a very personnel opinion. When I replaced everything on the front end including new tires all around (PO replaced the steering rack), I had it aligned and it didn't want to track straight. I had to constantly correct the steering. I took it back to my indy and he said he set it up that way. It cornered extremely well, but made me nervous on the highway. I explained where and how I drove and he understood. After aligning it again, it's very relaxed on the highway and I still like the way it corners (even if it's "down" a little from the first time he set it up). If everything is in spec, I believe there is a trade off or "range of alignment" if you will, where the alignment and the feel of the vehicle becomes a personnel preference.
#13
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rake, alighnment, tires wear and pressure
front control arm bush change... re alighn
could alsways opt for shocks and rsr uprights with tie rods..
that combo saves many a 993 from bumb stear so ive heard.
front control arm bush change... re alighn
could alsways opt for shocks and rsr uprights with tie rods..
that combo saves many a 993 from bumb stear so ive heard.
#15
RL Community Team
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If your car's alignment does not have enough caster it can tend to wander at higher speeds. My one time experience was that if caster can't be brought into specification some compensation can be achieved by a little more toe-in. Sometimes caster out of specification has to do with a bent spindle. Easy to bend when bumping the tire against a curb parking. Get a good alignment before entertaining money expending parts purchases.
Last edited by pp000830; 11-19-2013 at 10:40 PM. Reason: typo