Bumps control my car

aldend123 · Post by **aldend123** » 26 Jun 2006, 12:26

I just had a 4 wheel alignment done by a trusted mechanic, so I know this isn't the issue (and i really dont think that would be either). Lately my 1998 S70 T5 w/ 85k seems to be controlled by the bumps in the road, like I can feel the bump push the wheel, almost as if the steering pump has no power to it? (and i have plenty of fluid) I really don't know that much about the front end, and have no idea what would cause this but it makes my nice car feel like I'm driving some old beater. It just eats away at me every day I drive.

The car has new front Bilstein TC struts (at 84k), and sway bar links (at about 83k) and my mechanic told me when doing the alignment that my ball joints looked good too. I've had the car for less than a month and at this point, it's my only real complaint is the steering just does not feel solid. Blasting around turns everything feels fine, till I hit some bumps, the car might pull a bit unless i hold the wheel hard. All the other decent cars I've driven, I wont feel the bumps in the wheel at all. Is this just something this car does, or related to the new somewhat stiff suspension?

Post by **billofdurham** » 26 Jun 2006, 15:27

It could well be the stiff suspension as it will not absorb the shocks as easily as the stock set-up.

It could also be the tyres which are fairly low profile. This was one of the things I noticed when I changed my 940 for an 850. Using the same roads as I did in the 940 I noticed every little bump and rough patch in the 850. My tyre dealer said it was to be expected with the lower profile tyres.

It takes a little time to get used to it.

Bill.

the underlord · Post by **the underlord** » 26 Jun 2006, 15:59

i'm going to assume you have the stock PERFO rims and 205-55-16 tires?

aldend123 · Post by **aldend123** » 26 Jun 2006, 17:10

thats correct, the stock rims with the correct tires on them.
billofdurham, its not so much the feeling the bumps in the cabin that i care about. Its that i feel it through the steering wheel it feels as though the bump can pull the wheel from my hands (if i grip quite lightly) its just the feeling im getting from the wheel says to me "something isnt right' but yanno maybe im completely wrong here.

Post by **pfeener** » 27 Jun 2006, 05:20

You didn't mention the tie rod ends. I assume your mechanic checked them as well.

Did it "feel" like this before you changed the struts?

aldend123 · Post by **aldend123** » 27 Jun 2006, 07:15

I bought it not even a month ago, and when I first saw the car it had the old worn struts. The owner already had a set of Bilsteins in the mail, ordered before he had planned to sell the car. He swapped them out(hes an ex-mechanic, turned cop) and then I took the car for another test drive, with nothing noticable like this. The front end does feel stiffer than my first test drive with the bad old struts, but understanbly so.

As for the tierod ends, I don't recall my mechanic mentioning these. I'm going to bet he checked them since he knows I would have given him the business if I had bad tierod ends, but anyways... how would I check those on my own?

As for an update on the feeling, to get more specific, it seems to pull to the right MUCH more than it will pull to the left. It almost feels like when hitting a bump, the passenger front tire will "toe" itself outward and I'll need to twist the steering wheel to the left a little to regain a centered tire. Once it feels like it has pointed outward, the car pulls a bit, pulls even more when braking, unless the wheel is "re-centered". Sorry if that isnt making much sense.

Post by **pfeener** » 27 Jun 2006, 07:33

Too bad you don't have anything to compare the old with the new.

Checking the tie rod ends is easy. Jack up the car and let the wheels hang. You can even do one side at a time with the regular car jack if you don't have a floor jack. Grab the wheel at 3 & 9 o'clock and feel for any play. There should be none. Also check your control arm bushings. That's where the control arm is attached to the sub-frame. (other end of the control arm from the ball joint). If they are real bad you'll feel the play when you grab the wheel in the test above. You can also inspect the bushings visually to see if the rubber bushing is cracked.

Beyond that, if it were in my garage, I would take the front end apart and check how the struts were installed and probably replace the control arms anyway. They are cheap ($150 - $200) and easy to install.

aldend123 · Post by **aldend123** » 27 Jun 2006, 08:57

Ha I see you're in massachusetts, you probably know the lovely roads around here don't ya. (im sure those from the nice flat roads of the southwest are wondering what the big deal is)

anyways I'm 19, so that can change the perspective of "cheap". If I had the money, I would just bring it to a mechanic and simply say "make it be good" haha. Anyways I'll probably be getting it up on jackstands this week when I put the new rear rotors/pads in, so I'll check the front end while I'm at it. I gotta put a new turbo oil return seal in soon too, and since it's FINALLY getting nice out, I'll be doing that soon I hope.

Post by **pfeener** » 27 Jun 2006, 09:36

Where in MA are you located?

aldend123 · Post by **aldend123** » 27 Jun 2006, 12:05

South of worcester, Rhode Island border. The Franklin/Milford area.