Suspension Guru's....help me.

[Shawn_of_the_Dead]

I know my suspension is pretty bad. My question is this......

When I go over bumps, potholes, tracks....my car seems like it sways left to right. It is a weird floating feeling for a few seconds when the cars shocks/struts compress and uncompress over bumps. I have been thinking it is just bushings. Will the subframe spacers fix this? Has anyone else experienced this? I dont quite know how else to explain it....other than a swaying left to right feeling...you can def. feel it when riding in the car though. It is the first thing people notice.

I am sure lots of the slop will go away when I replace the shocks/struts with coilovers...but if it is something familiar to someone here I would like input so I can fix that first. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks

[180sxdrifter]

TC Rod bushings possibly

[caall99]

i had that problem on my supra. it turned out that the shocks on one side of the car had crapped out. the car would sway to one side as i went over speed bumps straight on. i guess thats what i get for driving rally style and getting airborne here and there on tight windy roads at over 90 mph. i replaced all four and the problem was gone.

[Shawn_of_the_Dead]

Originally Posted by 180sxdrifter

TC Rod bushings possibly

They are shot...cracked and worn. I know these are on my list for being changed within the next month. Do you think they would be the culprit of the swaying though? If not, I wanna get it taken care of first and then replace as much suspension as possible all at once.

Originally Posted by caall99

i had that problem on my supra. it turned out that the shocks on one side of the car had crapped out. the car would sway to one side as i went over speed bumps straight on. i guess thats what i get for driving rally style and getting airborne here and there on tight windy roads at over 90 mph. i replaced all four and the problem was gone.

I was thinking the same thing, but not sure if it is them or not. I just put the shocks on there and they came off of a 60k mile donor car. I imagine they could be blown out, guess coilovers will tell me in time if that was it. It's just aggravating....plus combine that with the bumpsteer from my tie rods and sometimes if feels downright unsafe. I drive it daily and on some crappy roads too.

[drift freaq]

your shocks are toast.

[95Blue240sx]

^^^yup, i had the same problem on my S14. I had a blown out rear shock. When i hit a bump it would like stagger out to the side.

[ranisron]

mine is acting the same. I have subframe spacers, but they have not healed my problem yet ---> which put me in suspecting the rear shocks. Oh well, coilovers are on their way from HK ^_^ so I am happy.

I figured it can't be my bushings, consider I have subframe bushings + aftermarket RUCA + Toe rods and other goods... but I do have some lower control arm polyurethane bushings laying around...

Keep posting ideas guys.

[Gnnr]

Check the links to the front and rear sway bar.

[RightWheelDrive]

Its the shocks. I had both my left front and left rear shocks completely blown and it would have that unstable feeling. If I would load that side, it would give me no feedback and then shoot to the right...that combined with wavy and bumpy roads = fun fun.

[SochBAT]

I've experienced that alot, but maybe my case is different. I've noticed the car bumpsteering more often as soon as tierods n ends went on.

And now i'm used to it.

[Shawn_of_the_Dead]

Originally Posted by sochbat

I've experienced that alot, but maybe my case is different. I've noticed the car bumpsteering more often as soon as tierods n ends went on.

And now i'm used to it.

Yeah, after doing the tie rods and end links on mine there was mad bumpsteer too. It sucks....

Originally Posted by RightWheelDrive

Its the shocks. I had both my left front and left rear shocks completely blown and it would have that unstable feeling. If I would load that side, it would give me no feedback and then shoot to the right...that combined with wavy and bumpy roads = fun fun.

Fun my ass....LOL....I almost run into the ditch 2 or 3 times a day cuz of the crappy backroads and bumpsteer + worn bushings + toasted shocks. My friggin car is all over the place...I'm suprised I dont get pulled over more for swervin....."it's the car officer....swear to god"

[Edgar]

shocks