My car likes to steer itself.... - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

NismoDan · 03-06-2005, 07:09 PM

My S13 likes to go all over the place when I let go of the wheel.
It feels like what happens when a car needs an alignment - it drifts all over the place.
The thing is, it does it to BOTH SIDES!!
It seems to randomly steer to either the left or the right when I let go, but never one side consistantly.

Any ideas?

Forgot to mention, I just replaced my worn out T/C rod bushings with Whiteline polys.

**mrmephistopheles** · 03-06-2005, 08:00 PM

did you buy your car from Knight Industries?

007jpang · 03-06-2005, 08:14 PM

did you get a nismo power brace??

blu808 · 03-06-2005, 08:18 PM

Worn tension rod bushing will cause that in severe cases.

If your car drifts by itself leave it alone and enjoy the ride.

m0rex · 03-06-2005, 08:24 PM

I dont think a nismo power brace or bushings are a problem since i have both and i dont feel the difference when im driving in a straight line. It can be a lower control arm though, and if it aint then its your ball joint on your lower control arm. If the ball joint is loose it jerks to the sides really violently and if you been driving around like that its probably stripped (it happen to me when i took my suspension apart to put my nismo power brace

but i've changed suspension parts so much i can take out my whole suspension in 4 min).

If its none of this or if you are sure its not wheel/tire or anything thats loose related then what have you hit/changed that could of damaged the suspension?

The Hamsterball · 03-06-2005, 08:27 PM

Shit.. how are we we supposed to know what exact part is causing this.

Get under there and check it out.

Go crazy and tighten front suspension component bolts. See what's missing, what's torn (bushings/etc), what's loose.

Your car probably needs an alignment. Have you taken the time to go to an alignment shop to get a *FREE* estimate?

Go do all that and you'll be sure to find out where it's stemming from.

thx247 · 03-06-2005, 09:10 PM

sounds like somethings b0rked under there...maybe a check of the suspension is in order.

Ian · 03-06-2005, 09:21 PM

my car does this too..i always figured it was cuz my offsets, w/ such a wide track i figured it was just more sensitive to grooves in the road surface

blu808 · 03-07-2005, 02:21 AM

hmmmmm cough cough tensioncaugh hmm rodhmm bushuhh huh ings,

Salty_X · 03-07-2005, 02:41 PM

It's probably just the banking of whatever road you happen to be driving on at the time.

NismoDan · 03-07-2005, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blu808

hmmmmm cough cough tensioncaugh hmm rodhmm bushuhh huh ings,

That's the second time youve mentioned tension rod bushings, but I explained in the original post that I just replaced those.
It was doing it before with the shot ones, and still is with the Whitelines.

blu808 · 03-07-2005, 03:41 PM

Thats odd. Usually 9 out of 10 times it is stock worn tension rods changing the caster back and to front while you are driving.

papershot · 03-07-2005, 03:49 PM

road could be banked, tires could be following grooves in the road, or most likely your alignment is bad.

did you ever get a new alignment after you replaced the tension rods?

***S14DB*** · 03-07-2005, 03:59 PM

CHeck your caster angle.

**mrmephistopheles** · 03-07-2005, 07:03 PM

Fuck, man.. nobody even acknowledged my joke.

***S14DB*** · 03-07-2005, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmephistopheles

Fuck, man.. nobody even acknowledged my joke.

Meh, Sounds more like Herbie to me.

blu808 · 03-08-2005, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmephistopheles

Fuck, man.. nobody even acknowledged my joke.

I just didnt want to say anything.

the head · 03-08-2005, 12:57 PM

might want to check the tie rods. Could be EXTREMELY warn hub bearings ball joints or torn control arm bushings

03-06-2005, 07:09 PM	#1
NismoDan Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: SF Posts: 310 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	My car likes to steer itself.... My S13 likes to go all over the place when I let go of the wheel. It feels like what happens when a car needs an alignment - it drifts all over the place. The thing is, it does it to BOTH SIDES!! It seems to randomly steer to either the left or the right when I let go, but never one side consistantly. Any ideas? Forgot to mention, I just replaced my worn out T/C rod bushings with Whiteline polys. __________________ C4L #34 Last edited by NismoDan; 03-06-2005 at 07:10 PM.. Reason: t/c rod info

03-06-2005, 08:14 PM	#3
007jpang Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Daly City/ San Jose Posts: 495 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	did you get a nismo power brace?? __________________ April 24th, 1915 http://www.shockdrifting.com

03-06-2005, 08:27 PM	#6
The Hamsterball Zilvia Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: CA Age: 39 Posts: 290 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Shit.. how are we we supposed to know what exact part is causing this. Get under there and check it out. Go crazy and tighten front suspension component bolts. See what's missing, what's torn (bushings/etc), what's loose. Your car probably needs an alignment. Have you taken the time to go to an alignment shop to get a FREE estimate? Go do all that and you'll be sure to find out where it's stemming from. __________________ White '90 S13 Fastback (SOLD in '07)

03-06-2005, 09:10 PM	#7
thx247 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: bay area Posts: 1,455 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	sounds like somethings b0rked under there...maybe a check of the suspension is in order. __________________ Finally down to 1 car again. Thank god.

03-07-2005, 02:41 PM	#10
Salty_X Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Modesto Posts: 1,221 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	It's probably just the banking of whatever road you happen to be driving on at the time. __________________

03-06-2005, 08:18 PM	#4
blu808 Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Campbell, Ca Age: 42 Posts: 5,010 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Worn tension rod bushing will cause that in severe cases. If your car drifts by itself leave it alone and enjoy the ride.

03-06-2005, 08:24 PM	#5
m0rex Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Nebraska Posts: 1,070 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I dont think a nismo power brace or bushings are a problem since i have both and i dont feel the difference when im driving in a straight line. It can be a lower control arm though, and if it aint then its your ball joint on your lower control arm. If the ball joint is loose it jerks to the sides really violently and if you been driving around like that its probably stripped (it happen to me when i took my suspension apart to put my nismo power brace but i've changed suspension parts so much i can take out my whole suspension in 4 min). If its none of this or if you are sure its not wheel/tire or anything thats loose related then what have you hit/changed that could of damaged the suspension?

03-07-2005, 02:21 AM	#9
blu808 Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Campbell, Ca Age: 42 Posts: 5,010 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	hmmmmm cough cough tensioncaugh hmm rodhmm bushuhh huh ings,

03-07-2005, 03:41 PM	#12
blu808 Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Campbell, Ca Age: 42 Posts: 5,010 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Thats odd. Usually 9 out of 10 times it is stock worn tension rods changing the caster back and to front while you are driving.

03-07-2005, 03:49 PM	#13
papershot Zilvia Junkie Join Date: May 2004 Location: CT Posts: 368 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	road could be banked, tires could be following grooves in the road, or most likely your alignment is bad. did you ever get a new alignment after you replaced the tension rods?

03-07-2005, 03:59 PM	#14
*S14DB* AFC #1 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: 昨晩あなたのお母さんの家 Posts: 20,181 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	CHeck your caster angle.

03-08-2005, 12:57 PM	#18
the head Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: in a dark room mastering the art of typing with one hand Posts: 2,164 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	might want to check the tie rods. Could be EXTREMELY warn hub bearings ball joints or torn control arm bushings __________________ I never knew you could do that with an eggplant