Caster Question - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

rocksteady_racer · 11-23-2008, 12:21 PM

I've been working on my 91 240sx since my 90 240sx motor is blown I'm pretty sure (gotta still do a compression test). Anyway, the caster is off on one side (not accurate but 3 fingers on driver side and 3.5 on passenger). The car feels like a go cart it wobbles back and forth constantly. Anyway I'm planning on installing battle version tension rods and it's already got tein tie rods and I can't figure out what else would cause the steering wheel wobble except the caster and the fact I need new coilovers but my other car with blown struts wasn't doing this. I was looking at the factory tension rods and both of them don't look bent but the bushings look really bad. Would bad bushings cause the caster problem or could the frame be shifted? That's the only two things that adjust caster right? Or maybe the strut moved but I don't see how the tie rods and caster arms didn't move if that happened. Thanks in advance.

slider2828 · 11-23-2008, 01:24 PM

Of course the tension rods hold your wheel steady.... Change those, All your wheel stability comes from that rod....

rocksteady_racer · 11-23-2008, 02:47 PM

O that's a very good point. I didn't even think about it like that LoL. Thanks alot.

Bigsyke · 12-02-2008, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slider2828

Of course the tension rods hold your wheel steady.... Change those, All your wheel stability comes from that rod....

Thats not true, your FLCA ball joint is just as important

rocksteady_racer · 12-03-2008, 12:43 AM

Where is the front lower control arm ball joint? It's not my wheel balance I already had that checked in the beginning to make sure that wasn't it since I was getting new tires anyway.

cdlong · 12-03-2008, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigsyke

Thats not true, your FLCA ball joint is just as important

true, but TC rod bushing fall apart like they're going out of style, while ball joints usually don't go bad. and he already said his were bad. has no one heard of Occam's razor?

rocksteady_racer · 12-03-2008, 06:52 PM

Yea I definately know the tc rod bushings are shot and the tension rod is crooked so I assumed that was the problem. So I'll figure out what is wrong with it tomorrow.

abunai the drifter · 12-02-2008, 07:57 PM

you should also balance your wheels as well

DRIFTING_SIL_EIGHTY · 12-03-2008, 01:45 AM

Balljoint is where your spindle connects to.

rocksteady_racer · 12-03-2008, 02:44 AM

I'm going to have a look tomorrow. I'm still working on my tension rods. The bolt is frozen on there, so I'm going to try heating it up tomorrow and see if that unlocks it. I've tried everything else. It's over 150 ft/lbs based on my torque wrench and I almost put my arm through my fender trying to break it loose so I'm definately going with frozen LoL. If that doesn't fix it then we know it's the ball joint.... I hope... Anyway like part of the spindle assembly? Can you point it out on this picture like near what number still kinda having trouble following you sorry

. Courtesy Nissan Spindle Assembly or in this one Courtesy Nissan Other Suspension parts Thanks in advance.

kamikazekid · 12-03-2008, 06:06 AM

your ball joint, and your outer tie rod ends will cause all kinds of steering wobbles and problems if they are worn out/shot. Visually inspect them for damage, wiggle them see if they're loose, before you start replacing arms. and yes the tension rods are the only thing that adjust caster on your car. 6.5 degrees is spec, you can drop it back to around 7 degrees for a little more agressive set up. note, adjust your camber first, then caster then toe. your car will pull to the side with the most negative caster so get them nice and even.

11-23-2008, 12:21 PM	#1
rocksteady_racer Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phila Age: 39 Posts: 544 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Caster Question I've been working on my 91 240sx since my 90 240sx motor is blown I'm pretty sure (gotta still do a compression test). Anyway, the caster is off on one side (not accurate but 3 fingers on driver side and 3.5 on passenger). The car feels like a go cart it wobbles back and forth constantly. Anyway I'm planning on installing battle version tension rods and it's already got tein tie rods and I can't figure out what else would cause the steering wheel wobble except the caster and the fact I need new coilovers but my other car with blown struts wasn't doing this. I was looking at the factory tension rods and both of them don't look bent but the bushings look really bad. Would bad bushings cause the caster problem or could the frame be shifted? That's the only two things that adjust caster right? Or maybe the strut moved but I don't see how the tie rods and caster arms didn't move if that happened. Thanks in advance.

11-23-2008, 01:24 PM	#2
slider2828 Post Whore! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 6,040 Trader Rating: (13) Feedback Score: 13 reviews	Of course the tension rods hold your wheel steady.... Change those, All your wheel stability comes from that rod.... __________________ Turn and Burn!

12-02-2008, 07:57 PM	#8
abunai the drifter Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Long Beach CA Age: 39 Posts: 392 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	you should also balance your wheels as well __________________ screw you guys im going drifting

12-03-2008, 02:44 AM	#10
rocksteady_racer Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phila Age: 39 Posts: 544 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I'm going to have a look tomorrow. I'm still working on my tension rods. The bolt is frozen on there, so I'm going to try heating it up tomorrow and see if that unlocks it. I've tried everything else. It's over 150 ft/lbs based on my torque wrench and I almost put my arm through my fender trying to break it loose so I'm definately going with frozen LoL. If that doesn't fix it then we know it's the ball joint.... I hope... Anyway like part of the spindle assembly? Can you point it out on this picture like near what number still kinda having trouble following you sorry . Courtesy Nissan Spindle Assembly or in this one Courtesy Nissan Other Suspension parts Thanks in advance. Last edited by rocksteady_racer; 12-03-2008 at 03:35 AM..

12-03-2008, 06:06 AM	#11
kamikazekid Leaky Injector Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: california Age: 36 Posts: 140 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	your ball joint, and your outer tie rod ends will cause all kinds of steering wobbles and problems if they are worn out/shot. Visually inspect them for damage, wiggle them see if they're loose, before you start replacing arms. and yes the tension rods are the only thing that adjust caster on your car. 6.5 degrees is spec, you can drop it back to around 7 degrees for a little more agressive set up. note, adjust your camber first, then caster then toe. your car will pull to the side with the most negative caster so get them nice and even. __________________ Drifting is not a crime

11-23-2008, 02:47 PM	#3
rocksteady_racer Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phila Age: 39 Posts: 544 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	O that's a very good point. I didn't even think about it like that LoL. Thanks alot.

12-03-2008, 12:43 AM	#5
rocksteady_racer Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phila Age: 39 Posts: 544 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Where is the front lower control arm ball joint? It's not my wheel balance I already had that checked in the beginning to make sure that wasn't it since I was getting new tires anyway.

12-03-2008, 06:52 PM	#7
rocksteady_racer Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phila Age: 39 Posts: 544 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yea I definately know the tc rod bushings are shot and the tension rod is crooked so I assumed that was the problem. So I'll figure out what is wrong with it tomorrow.

12-03-2008, 01:45 AM	#9
DRIFTING_SIL_EIGHTY Zilvia Addict Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: gardena/los angeles Posts: 754 Trader Rating: (14) Feedback Score: 14 reviews	Balljoint is where your spindle connects to.