Rear end seems to side step over bumps

[whiteman_01]

Hey guys, i had my sho dyno'd a few months ago and there seems to be an issue now. While driving, of course, if you hit a bump with the rear pass tire, the car seems to side step to the right.

Also, since then, there is a hollow clunk out of the same corner. It almost sounds like the suspension in a neon, kind of a tin can sound.

Anything specific i should look for? I did notice when they were done with the first pull, one of the straps was not tight at all, and the car was very close to walking off the dyno.

 

[zblackbeast]

Sounds like its time for you to replace strut mounts or sway bar links.. My car also steps to the side over bumps on corners etc. but thats due to a work strut/spring combo.. I would look also at your struts wearing out.

 

[frosho]

Mine did this when my rear struts were shot. One side was much worse than the other, but they were both bad.

 

[shobote]

Sounds like sway bar end links are shot. If the clunk s down below, check sway bar end link or strut rod bushing., IF it is higher up near the A-pillar it is the strut mount; the hole in the middle gets enlarged after time and the piston is hitting the metal where the strut assembly bolts up.

 

[sperold]

Try an alignment of the rear tires.
Do the string alignment yourself first to see if you can detect a difference; and look at the outside edges of the tires to see if they are a different texture.
I have had this issue in the past.
My guess at this point is your driver's side rear tire is toed in, or less likely, you passenger rear tire is toed out.
The side that was strapped down at the back took all the forces and that is the side where the problems are.

 

[greengiant]

I had the same problem, struts were gone on both sides, new ones fixed it, careful with your pitch bolts though don't break em like I did it really sucks if you do.

 

[whiteman_01]

Struts really arn't that old, but i did find the clunk. The clunk was a broken exhaust hanger, but the car still side steps over bumps. I know it started it right after the dyno session, i even called another mn member about it right after i left the shop.

The tire on that side is pretty bad on the inside. The mid and outside have decent tread, but the inside is almost bald. If you run you finger along the tread, there is a definite step between each tread block.

 

[sperold]

Your passenger tire is toe-ed out, that is why the inside is wearing prematurely.
Measure the same tread on the two back tires across the car width, on the back of the tire, and on the front of the tire, the front will be a bigger measurement.

 

[whiteman_01]

Ok, when i get the car back i will do that. So, i would think they wrapped the strap around the rear arm to both tires, but since it was the pass strap that was loose, it bent that arm pulling the rear of the tire in when the car almost walked off the dyno. Hmmm....

 

[sperold]

It would be prudent to look for something bent, but that is hard to do as it takes a lot of measuring from side to side. If you suspect a strap bent the rear suspension arm, then look in that area with a straight edge.
Try moving the car forward and do the tire tread measurement, then move it backwards and do it again.... maybe have someone watch while you move it to see if you can see the wheel change position.
Check all your components, especially the rear suspension tension strut and its bushings. You may find a failed bushing and it may be a coincidence that the symptoms showed up after the dyno run.
Good luck and it sounds like an alignment will fix it.

 

[sperold]

You don't know how lucky you are finding this little problem. If you drive you car in the winter.... you just saved yourself a mishap.
In my case, both rear wheels were toed-out evenly. On a snow or ice patched road, one wheel would lose traction and the other wheel would drive the rear of the car over. After doing a few 360s on the Pennsylvania turnpike while going to Myrtle Beach, I finally had the problem pointed out by an acquaintance (both rear tires were worn on the inside edges). This is after having it at a so called professional shop where they told me it was a front wheel drive phenomenon.

 

[sperold]

Any updates on this issue?
I had to crawl under my car to dick around with my parking brake return spring, and I took note of the rear arms.... and they are pretty fragile looking to me. I don't think it would be a good idea to tie down the car using just the rear-most lower arm. And if that one did bend (thus shortening it) your rear passenger tire would be in a toe-out situation, so it does add up.
You might be able to use a "come-along" or some hydraulic ram tool to straighten your rear arm if you can see it is bent, and in that case, everything should return to normal.

 

[whiteman_01]

I have yet to get the car back from my brother, probably next week though.

 

[whiteman_01]

Well, i finally got under my car. lol. As i suspected, the rear control arm on the passenger side is bent pretty bad. But, its the front one, not the rear as i had thought. So, now i need to find a suitable replacement.

 

[sperold]

That will be easy if you know where some are. But if you don't, St. Louis SHO has the FPS adjustable rear arms for $150.00, shipping included. He has an ad in the parts for sale section.
I don't think you need adjustment unless you lower the car.

 

[whiteman_01]

The car is lowered slightly. I have the eibach springs in it. I will look into the adjustables.

 

[firebat45]

I'd be pretty ****** at the dyno shop, and be looking for a new arm + tire from them.

 

[whiteman_01]

THey have you sign a release form before you dyno. They are not responsible for anything.

 

[HotRodKid]

The side that was strapped down at the back took all the forces and that is the side where the problems are.

wait, what ?

the ONLY time ive ever seen a car that got suspension damage from tie downs was when a friend shipped his 69 chevelle cross country and the shipping company tried to bind it down to the bump stops. That idea would be bad enough if it wasnt for the fact that the car was jacked up all the way around, and the shocks were the wrong ones for the car

The shocks bent before the car ever hit the stops ... and then the car went from NY to Cali in that position

heres the car:

 

[Bob Gervais]

I think he means, one strap in the rear was loose, the other tight, resulting in the tight strap taking all the force. Sounds to me like they strapped to the control arm....