Kevinjgould

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.

pirahna

What suspension, wheels and tires are on the car? Did you change any of those around the time you noticed the change?

Kevinjgould

All stock. Have made no changes

BSL

Check the front tires for wear and proper pressure. Mine started to have a little wander, and it was caused by the insides of the front tires being worn out.

kjr914

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)

stace

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.

Knight

I heard also your height rake can affect this too, such as your rear end sitting much lower vs fronts.

993/907

How old are your tires?

Gordo

P-track

Tires, tie-rods, a-arm bushings. How is the wear pattern on your tires? Often a very good indication of what's wrong.

Kika

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.

Endoman

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.

ble2011

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.

lopro

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.

Endoman

Is that supposed to be bump steer or bum steer?

pp000830

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.