how much will tires affect suspension feel?
- Thread starter tommyturbo
- Start date
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
tommyturbo
SHO Member
ok. did take a look at things again. checked the steering column joint under the dash, was pretty tight, but snugged up the bolt a little bit. The one under the plastic cover down at the firewall.
checked under the car again, rack is snug on the frame. Everything looks good except the sway bar end links, they are very loose when the car is jacked up, and the ends the rubber seal has broken, so I am going to replace these. didn't notice them the the first time under the car.
My motor mounts arrived while I was under the car, but don't have the time to do them today, but will on thanksgiving weekend. but doubt they would have much to do with this problem.
added more air pressure went for a drive, makes it worse....so will try less pressure and see how it feels then.
checked under the car again, rack is snug on the frame. Everything looks good except the sway bar end links, they are very loose when the car is jacked up, and the ends the rubber seal has broken, so I am going to replace these. didn't notice them the the first time under the car.
My motor mounts arrived while I was under the car, but don't have the time to do them today, but will on thanksgiving weekend. but doubt they would have much to do with this problem.
added more air pressure went for a drive, makes it worse....so will try less pressure and see how it feels then.
Last edited:
tommyturbo
SHO Member
so lower tire pressure does seem to help...but haven't had a chance to drive very far.
tommyturbo
SHO Member
Replaced the motor mounts, and the sway bar end links. The car drives much better, does not wander as bad, especially under throttle. No more clunks when I take off or shift. I think I am going to look into tweaking the alignment.
tommyturbo
SHO Member
I can't explain it, but it does feel better, not perfect but better. But I am going to recheck the alignment this week.
shobote
SHO Member
You said the struts were replaced, but what about springs ? If it still has the original stock springs, they will be worn out by now and it will have a floaty feeling.
wtf?
"floaty" feeling comes from struts/shocks, not springs.
springs do not "wear out". the springs may take a set (sag), which will reduce ride height, but the spring rate does not change because it is a function of the material properties of steel, and the physical dimensions of the spring.
shobote
SHO Member
Springs wear out, and the spring rate softens when they are worn. I replaced struts and mounts on my 89 and ran it for about 10k with worn, sagging springs, and just as the OP describes, it had a floaty feel. Replaced them with Eibachs, and guess what, no more floaty feel.
the spring rate is a function of the material properties of steel and the dimensions of the spring. those do not change with time, unless the spring rusts away. its a math problem, and no matter how much you may believe that the answer changes, it does not.
of course Eibachs will feel different, the spring rates are higher.
of course Eibachs will feel different, the spring rates are higher.
tommyturbo
SHO Member
So I've been busy with all the holiday stuff, and haven't driven it much. I'm really starting to lean more towards the tires. I noticed and a long drive to the mountains this last week that pavement type really changes feel of the car. Driving on a textured / groove fwy surface the car wanders some, and feels loose, seems to follow the crown of the road alot. All the stuff I posted for originally. Get onto a asphalt pavement type road and the car drives much better. It seems to feel much tighter. The steering feels like alot of slop has disappeared, wander is almost nil, and it seems to want to follow crown less. On a level road the car goes perfectly straight, no wander, and the wheel is dead on. On the curving mountain roads the car feels really great. On the way home minute I got onto the fwy with the concrete it was all loose and sloppy again. Is it possible that these tires are just super sensitive to the grooves and texture? It was really like a switch was flipped once I got off the fwy and onto the back roads.
Last edited:
on grooved pavement, new tires will wander much more (the taller the tread blocks are, the more of that you experience)
also, depending on the # of grooves in the tires (width of tread blocks) and the spacing of the road grooving, some tires just are terrible on certain roads.
also, depending on the # of grooves in the tires (width of tread blocks) and the spacing of the road grooving, some tires just are terrible on certain roads.
tommyturbo
SHO Member
these tires were put on by the prior owner. The are fuzion hri, which I do not know much about, the tread blocks look very tall, almost like light truck tires, not a car tire. They don't have much mileage on them. been tempted to swap some rims and tires from my 95 and see what happens.
RonPorter
SHO Club of America
Swapping another set would pretty much nail down if it's the tires.
If those tires are newish, and you had a local shop that could shave them, that might be a cheaper solution.
If those tires are newish, and you had a local shop that could shave them, that might be a cheaper solution.
I never liked those particular tires. they tend to wear pretty fast, will wear uneven if you have any minor alignment issues, and are not particularly sticky. I like the idea of trying some other tires.
Similar threads
