Car doesn't drive straight!

Calabrio

Calabrio

Dedicated LVC Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2005
Messages
8,398
Reaction score
2
Location
Sarasota
Six alignments. The car pulls to the left and it's just not stable. The guys at Firestone, who did the six back to back alignments, each immediately after I had the car aligned and then brought it right back because it was driving badly, swear the car is better aligned right now than it was the day it rolled off the factory line.

I can't figure out what is wrong with the car. It pulls hard to the right and it just feels squirely. Also, there is bit of a shake at highway speed. I've replaced air ride, both upper control arms, left ball joint, right lower control arm, inner/out tie rods, the Strut rod bushings on both sides. In the back, the air springs are new, the sway bar and endlinks are from a Super Coupe.

Front wheel bearings are new. Right rear was replaced. No sounds from the left.

What other parts in the back wear out, and what could cause this.
If the problem is in the front, any ideas?

I'm stumped, frustrated, and increasingly disgusted....
 
Hi i just did some research for mark viii irs but couldnt find much. However, i found a site called mn12 performance.com that shows tips and pics of the thunderbird irs which i assume is the same set up. If the tires are inflated ok, the wheels are true and balanced and the brakes dont bind then maybe you should look at the rear subframe bushes and those in the rear control arms. My old bmw 7 series had poor stability at high speed and changing the sub frame and trailing arm bushes cured it completely. I noticed you changed one front lower arm. I think maybe these should be done as a pair.
 
Check your brake calipers for freeze and pads for wear.

Also they should print out the before and after alignment. Get a copy and post the specs.
 
which is it? your first paragraph says your car pulls to the left,the second paragraph says it pulls hard to the right?
 
Moes8 said:
which is it? your first paragraph says your car pulls to the left,the second paragraph says it pulls hard to the right?
Click to expand...

Thanks all, most of the ideas I've attempted, but I'm trolling for new ones.
As for the pull, it pulls right, I have to keep the wheel turned a bit to the left to drive straight.

Brakes are all good, free, and not binding.

I've had the tires rebalanced three times. As for how they were done, I don't know the technical term, but it's that computerized spinning thing and then they stuck on the weights with what would appear to be an adhesive or double side tape. Typical Firestone tire shop.

No harm in rotating the tires, they're a bit over due, with about 7k miles on them. I'll give that a shot.

I hadn't thought about the rack failing. I certainly hope not. Any tell-tale signs of this? Leaking fluid, noise, resistance?

Are there any parts that wear out that I should consider having worn out in the rear? Other than the sway bar and airs prings, and bearings, I haven't changed any bushing or anything back there. Is there anything else that wears out back there?
 
Just about the rack, you would feel the looseness, if it feels like no power steering especially when you first start out in the morning, gets worse if not attended to. Put your finger in the reservoir and if there is fine silver shavings on your finger, good indication that it's about toasted.
 
Are the tires on the back the same size? Or does it only veer off under acceleration? When I got a flat on my truck I put the spare on, it was a different size then the other one, as a result when I accelerated it twisted the back axle all up and made it shoot off to the left. Happen's with limed slips that lock up and lockers.
 
I had a "squirrely" problem in my old 95, but only at highway speeds. Turned out to be the EVO (Electronic Variable Orifice) became disconnected somehow. It's down by the PS pump, on the lower driver's side of the motor.

Read through this post I made on LoL, and if it seems like your problem, I can find the picture of what it looks like and where it is. Just PM me.

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31550

Good luck.
 
How many miles on your car? You said you replaced the control arms and strut rod bushings? How long ago? Are your alignment guys doing a full 4 wheel alignment as required with our 4 wheel indepent suspension? Are you test driving on a flat road with no crown?
 
Roadboss said:
How many miles on your car?
Click to expand...
200,000

You said you replaced the control arms and strut rod bushings? How long ago?
Click to expand...
Within the past thousand miles.

Are your alignment guys doing a full 4 wheel alignment as required with our 4 wheel indepent suspension?
Click to expand...
Yes.

Are you test driving on a flat road with no crown?
Click to expand...
Yes, it's consistent on every road surface, local, highway, and interstate.

As for the EVO, it's not just touchy, it's not straight. It's still possible those clowns at Firestone have yet to get it right, but after a half dozen tries, you'd think they'd at least be close.

I'll double check the rear bearings again. Are there any wear parts in the the rear suspension?
 
Six alignments. The car pulls to the left and it's just not stable. The guys at Firestone, who did the six back to back alignments, each immediately after I had the car aligned and then brought it right back because it was driving badly, swear the car is better aligned right now than it was the day it rolled off the factory line.
Click to expand...
Was anything different between each alignment ?
Did you look at the numbers and see if anything was moving ?
I would think once it was in spec. it wouldnt need to be done again.
Or were they just checking the alignment each time ?
It's still possible those clowns at Firestone have yet to get it right, but after a half dozen tries, you'd think they'd at least be close.
Click to expand...
Maybe try a different shop they should be giving you a print out of each alignment before and after numbers showing you what "if anything" was off and by how far,and were it is now.
 
Have you tried swapping the front tire/wheel assemblies yet?

I had a bad tire that made my car pull to the left. When I swapped the tires it pulled to the right. New tires fixed it.
 
Calabrio said:
. It's still possible those clowns at Firestone have yet to get it right, but after a half dozen tries, you'd think they'd at least be close.
Click to expand...

Well, you have one common factor here,you have had the exact same shop doing all the work,What if they have incorrect specs for the alignment,what if there spec book(computer?) has transposed numbers or something?find the alignment numbers and find what they are supposed to be,what if there alignment machine is wonky,

what if what if what if....... sorry just trying to think a little outside on this,i would be going crazy after the 2nd alignment let alone 6,good luck
 
Take it to an actual Ford dealership for an alignment. I've never seen a local place that can aling a car correctly.

I brought a car to the local tire palce and when I got it back it was just as bad as when I brought it in, and the steering wheel was off too!
 
Does anyone know if there are components in the rear of the car that wear out? Other than the wheel bearings, do I have control arms, balljoints, and the like on the back that need to be replaced. At 200k, they'd probably need replacement.
 
Under breaking, the car does pull VERY hard to the right as well. There was no apparent sign of brake wear when I had the front end apart last time, but the severity of this problem seems to have occurred after I reassembled everything. Perhaps the right caliper began to finally fail after I removed it last time?

Should I bother rebuilding the front calipers or just replace the front two and turn the old ones in for the core charge? Or should I just change the right one (the direction is pulls in)?
 
Calabrio, if the car pulls right under braking it generally means the problem is on the opposite side i.e. the left brake isnt doing enough.
 
It pulls hard right under breaking, and pulls right while driving...
Does that still sound like a left side issue?
 
Calabrio.......
unity pointed it out.
I have pointed it out.
Is the car to spec ?
What are the Numbers ?
Is the car aligned properly?
If yes it sounds like a sticky caliper on the right side.
 
Calabrio, if you are still have doubts about how the brakes are performing, get the car put on a rolling road brake test machine. The machine will tell you the efficiency of all brakes and whether or not they are binding.
 
Ordered new front calipers from Rockauto.
And replacing the broken ABS sensor on the right too.
I'll rotate the tires while it's jacked up too.

I'll see how that goes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 487 (members: 0, guests: 487)
Back
Top