ameli0rate
ameli0rate New Reader
2/28/21 8:34 p.m.

I had new subframe bushings installed at the dealer, and an IPD thicker sway bar at the same time.

I didn't feel this before (on the same freeway transitions and other higher speed turns), but now it seems that once I get the steering wheel turned to a certain point, the car wants to go into the turn even quicker? Almost as if the steering ratio gets quicker.

At first I thought it was an alignment issue, as I also had some outside edge wear on the front passenger side tire, but the tires were also very old so I don't trust them to have behaved normally. I also got the alignment all sorted.
I also have new outer tie rod ends, and the inners, ball joints, hubs/bearings, struts, strut bearings and spring seats were all done ~40K miles ago so I don't suspect them. There are no clunks or vibration or weird feeling in either brakes (also done, along with pads around 20K miles ago) or steering.

The car doesn't feel nervous or unsettled at all, at any speed.  It's just that suddenly quicker turn-in in a higher speed turn like a freeway transition.

Oh - and I replaced the passenger side axle around the same time, the GKN (OEM) axle was reman from FCP Euro - could that be the culprit?  It's possible I feel a little more torque steer after installing the axle accelerating from stop signs, but not every time. I don't see how that could be the culprit. If it were bent I'd have vibrations or whatnot, no?

So - any ideas where to look?

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) MegaDork
2/28/21 9:36 p.m.

That is normally what an excess of toe feels like.  Or, being a rear steer design, sloppy control arm bushings.

 

Part of me wonders if something was way out of whack before, and your reactions have adjusted to that, and now normal feels weird.

ameli0rate
ameli0rate New Reader
2/28/21 11:23 p.m.

When the first alignment place got my toe WAY out of alignment, just driving home was hairy. In a straight line. The car would alternate which wheel it wanted to follow so I had a serious unsettled left-right feeling, like it was REALLY loose in the front.
Once I went to another shop who did it right (rather, their instruments worked properly), the car was massively improve.

Anyway, I could have them adjust the toe in just a smidgen and see if it makes a difference.  I think she adjusted it as close to 0 as she could last time.


As for me adjusting to a loose car - that's a possibility I hadn't concidered. Hmm.

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