Need More Wiggle Help !

[rrhayden]

I replaced both rear wheel bearings and checked the u joints in the half shafts. They felt tight, as did the rear tie-rod ends. I still have a shift to the left when I let of the gas at 60 and then movement to the right when I apply power. I have been told, that it could be bushings in the rear suspension, any more idead?

Thanks

 

[Rabbit]

Could this be an alignment problem?

 

[Vettelt193]

how many miles are on your car? where do you feel the movement? in the rear of the car, the whole car, transmission? is it right to left or is it a right to left rotational movement?

 

[rrhayden]

Hi,

The car has just over 100k on it. The movement is left when I take my foot of the power and then to the right when I apply power. There is no noticable movement at lower speed unless I shift to a lower gear and then you can feel the rear move left.
any ideas would be great

 

[Vettelt193]

so the rear of the car feels like it is moving directly left (or right) it is a non-rotational feel? Is the car actually moving over, or is it just a feeling? if the car is actually moving over, are the tires walking over, or is the movement independent of the tires?

A couple of ideas I currently have.... One is the engine mounts. If they are loose or broken, the whole drivetrain would not be very stable.

One last question... does the car make any noticable sound when it 'moves' to the left or right? a clunking etc.? if so, where is the sound coming from, front or rear?

 

[rrhayden]

I appreciate the help. There is is movement in the rear from side to side. There is no noise associated with it at all. I do have a slight growl in the rear at 7 to 15 miles an hour when slowing to a stop. I thought it might be half shaft joints, but when I checked the shafts there was no looseness. I did not remove them, could they feel tight, and still be warn?

 

[Eagle85C4]

Even though the u-joints might feel tight take into consideration the car weighs in at about 3200 lbs, that is a lot of weight and force on the u-joints. You are not going to be able to get any movement out of them unless you take the complete weight off the tires and then slip the car into neutral. Then get underneath to where you can see and gently rock the tire back and forth on both sides. You might also put a bottle jack under the wheel assembly and lift it up gently to remove all weight and compression from it.
I will continue to say I think it is the u-joints.I had the same problem and went through the same process you are going through and had the same comments told to me before I found the problem. And it was Vigman who finally came to the rescue and pointed me in the right direction.
Think about it, a loose tie rod end will cause the wheel to move and wiggle...not the whole car from side to side when the gas is applied and let off of. As the half shafts act as the lower a-frame in the rear suspension, logic would dictate they are close to the problem. When you give it the gas you are binding them in one direction, when you let off they momentarily "float" causing the wiggle, then as the car slows down and engine brake takes over they bind in the opposite direction.

And I would be extremely careful driving the car, because if one of the half shafts comes loose, it will cost you more then 15.00 for each u-joint to replace all the damage. Also if it were me and it had that many miles I would change them anyway if nothing else for peace of mind.

 

[rrhayden]

I have to agree that your reply makes a lot of sense. When I checked them I had the car jacked up to check for play. However I did not lift the wheel to remove the load.

I also hear a rotational growl at about 15 miles an hour, only on deceleration. I assume this could also be from the joints, as both wheel bearings were replaced.