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Suspension feels like its floating...

G

green SVT

Guest
Ok so this is kinda hard to explain but he it goes. Ok well I hit a huge pot hole and this has started since then. It my steering wheel is prefectly straight then I turn it right to like 1 o'clock there is alot play in the steering. Meaning the the car doesnt turn when I turn the wheel, not till I get to like 2 o'clock on the steering does it finally turn. So the steering wheel turns to the right but the tires dont move. And when it does turn, the car rolls alot more now. But just to the right. Any ideas b4 I take her to the dealer????
 
Quick guess would be check to see if your tie rods look straight and whether the ends have play in them or not. This can be done using the 9 and 3 "oclock" test :) Search for "oclock test" or the similar and you should find more info regarding testing your front end parts. Basically what you do is jack the car up and check for looseness with your hands at the 9 and 3 positions. the other test is 6 and 12 oclock positions.

Good luck. I'd bet if you hit a pot hole hard you either bent a lower control arm or tie rod. Just my guess.
 
Ok so there is a little play with the 9-3 test. Make metal clinking kinda sound. Should there be any play?
 
and if your getting alot of roll, you should also check your sway bar endlinks, front and back.
 
ok I'm a totally newb when it comes to suspension, so the sway bar is the bar that goes across the bottom off the car right? So where it connects behind the brakes? What should I look for? Gosh I feel like a total idiot..:shrug:
 
Most (if not all) cars have a "rag joint" in the steering shaft just before the steering box. It is a laminated rubber or urethane disk. If that is torn you will get the same symptoms your are describing. I just had to change it on my SVO. It only cost about $10. at NAPA.
 
SVT2000Contour said:
Most (if not all) cars have a "rag joint" in the steering shaft just before the steering box. It is a laminated rubber or urethane disk. If that is torn you will get the same symptoms your are describing. I just had to change it on my SVO. It only cost about $10. at NAPA.
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How and where would they be located to check?
 
Find the steering column shaft between the firewall and the steering box. If you can get someone to turn the steering wheel back and forth while you look to see something moving, it will make it easy to see.
 
The steering coupler will not cause the car to roll a lot more than it used to. Only deficiency it causes is slop in the steering wheel. Plus hitting a pothole will not cause it go. The rubber disc which is rivetted between 2 metal plates just loosens up over time. The holes enlarge and/or the rivets come loose.

They're a PITA to change UNLESS you have the transaxle and/or complete drivetrain out of the car. That's when I did mine. I'd check all the other parts mentioned first.
 
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