Front end walks around.

[mally69]

I have noticed when I get my car up to about 80 mph the front end walks side to side and there's nothing I can do to control it from the wheel. Something is seriously wrong here. I checked my steering box its tight and the coupler in my steering colum is assembled correctly. Does anyone have any idea as to what else is causing this. It scares the heck of of me.

[Ghoste]

When was the last time you had the front end aligned? (and rebuilt?)

[Rolling_Thunder]

a worn idler arm can cause that behavior...      agreed on the alignment as well...     

[mally69]

Actually i just had it aligned last month and only drove it 3 times since. How can I check my idler arm. I assume to just look for motion within the connection points?

[craigandlynda]

don't forget tire pressure...over inflated tires can do exactly what you are describing

[Ghoste]

And not to minimize the mechanical probabilities at all because it's more likely to be one of those, but I am finding more and more that front end mechanics who know how to do a proper alignment with a torsion bar front end are getting harder to find.

[mally69]

I guess maybe I might want to find another alignment shop. Ill have to check all these thing tomorrow. Another pointer is if I'm on a road that's wavy as the car goes up, it pulls all over the place.

[Ghoste]

So basically, anytime the front end unloads the car wanders?

[mally69]

So basically, anytime the front end unloads the car wanders?

Yes, exactly  .  . When  the front of the car lifts it goes haywire.  I could be going 20 mph and go over a slight roll in the road and it will do it, and also when the car hooks hard and raises the front end it does it. And I mentioned 80mph becuase it did to me at that speed when I first noticed it. Scary. 

[1969chargerrtse]

So basically, anytime the front end unloads the car wanders?

Yes, exactly  .  . When  the front of the car lifts it goes haywire.  I could be going 20 mph and go over a slight roll in the road and it will do it, and also when the car hooks hard and raises the front end it does it. And I mentioned 80mph becuase it did to me at that speed when I first noticed it. Scary. 

Crazy thought but maybe swap the front tires with the rear tires and try it again.  Maybe a belt is going inside one of the front tires?

[craigandlynda]

ball joints been checked?

[Back N Black]

If the steering box is not centered perfect when sitting up the front end alignment, it will cause the vehicle to wander. Its referred to as over center adjustment. Its that sweet spot when cruising down the road and you turn the steering wheel a little to the left or right and there is a small resistace to overcome.  yet another possibility.

[mally69]

Ball joints are brand new just put them in before alignment. I cant change tires cuase i have bigger ones in the back. I may have to take it back to the alignment shop and have them look it over again. Keep the ideas coming .

[71ChallengeHer]

How wide are your front tires ? The Super Coupe has 15x8's. And it walks out on the highway. It's kinda scary but that's a lot of tire on the road.

[Tigger]

sounds like the toe setting is set negative, or toe out, should probably be set toe in. Toe out makes the car want to pull itself in either direction, toe in wants to try to meet.
\ / toe out, / \ toe in.

[John_Kunkel]

With the hood open and the engine off, have someone sit in the car and turn the steering wheel from side to side while you look for any looseness in the components under the hood and under the car.

[mally69]

I believ I have a 15x7 rim with a 235/60 in the front. I know that when I have my car jacked up in the front my wheels fall inward and look like this \ /  It just started doing this recently, I have drove it for about 3 years so far and its just now screwing up on me. I am going out right now to have dad turn the wheel while I check for slop in my steering components./ Ill post up what I find out.

[1969chargerrtse]

   I'll wait 8 months, but by the 9th month I'm outta here.

[375instroke]

Manual or power steering?  I wouldn't say you had it aligned.  More like you took it to an alignment shop.  I've never taken a car to an alignment shop, I don't have any special or expensive tools, my tires wear even, my cars drive straight, they handle well, and there aren't any other problems like a high speed shimmy.  Stock specs suck, and if the shop did an excellent job at aligning your car to those specs, like negative caster and positive camber, you've been done a terrible disservice.

[mally69]

I forgot all about this post, sorry guys.    What i ended up doing is I bought a new set of tires for the front and it cured the entire problem.

[375instroke]

I was thinking of mentioning tires.  When I was driving the '64 GT Dart home the first time, once I hit 60MPH on the freeway, the car started swaying from lane to lane.  I would have hit the cars on both sides of me if there was anyone there.  I thought the car was going to tip over it was so bad.  Under 60 it was fine.  Put a set of wheels and tires I had at home on it and it was fine.