weird suspension symptoms, please help me diagnose

[vegeta4ss]

Ok,

so two or three weeks ago my car started getting a little pull to the left, nothing major. As I continued driving over the weeks now it has gotten quite difficult to hold it straight. I have to fight it a little to keep it straight. I know I haven't hit anything like potholes or whatnot, and nobody drives my car but me.

This weekend my car developed a slight noise. Its hard to describe but it sounds light a light rotating thump. Definitely a different noise than endlinks popping or clacking. Doesn't sound like the steering rack either. The only time I can really hear the noise is cruising 20mph or less and off the throttle. The noise is also only able to be heard from my side.

The car is not turning nearly as tight as normal especially when turning left. A few times when parking very slowly and turning in to the left my front left tire just made the slightest chirp. Not from speed or quick braking, I really dont know what caused it. It did it again earlier when pulling off pretty slow with my friend at the mall. That time I was turning right. Its not like I am launching or anything, this is a real easy start. Nice and gentle.

Also, back to the car pulling a little to the left. Its weird, very much different than knocking out of alignment. It actually feels like my car is trying to dart to the left and back to the right quickly and I'll be holding it straight, or trying to. It's the strangest thing ever.

Only comes from front left. Tire pressure and endlinks are good. I was thinking maybe this could be axle or ball joint related but I am unfamiliar with symptoms and noises that would affirm that for me.

if someone can help save me some time i'd be very appreciative.

[03gtscelica]

Dang i hope you find an answer.
Thats scary!

[kimGT]

take off the wheels and check every bolt/nut is on, if that don't work and you can't find out whats wrong, take it to an alignment shop and tell them the problem.

[vegeta4ss]

well i am heading to a reputable shop this weekend but its a 1.5hr drive so i'd like to rule out as many options as possible incase it is something like the ball joint that I probably cant change on my own.

Tomorrow's plan after work is to take off the tire and check as much as i can get to.

[Fingjosh]

ur weights could be thrown off

[vegeta4ss]

that is a possibility too. I'll probably get my tires balanced again before the weekend trip.

Normally though when my tires aren't balanced my steering wheel is really shaky. Today i was going 70 on the interstate and no shakyness just me fighting to stay in my lane, lol.

[kimGT]

to me it sounds like a loose or missing bolt. maybe from the strut or possibly the control arms.

[vegeta4ss]

loose bolt i can deal with. Broken bolt I will curse at and then extract. But missing bolt just plain scares me:hide:. I wish it was still light outside right now.

[kimGT]

no garage? honestly i wouldn't drive like that.

[autxr]

What are your tire pressures?

[vegeta4ss]

no garage? honestly i wouldn't drive like that.
yeah no garage yet. Been looking for a place with one. I've got no other choice than to drive. I had it out on the interstate all weekend and for the last few weeks, if it is okay there then I assume it will be okay to go in morning traffic. Regardless, I should have it sorted out by the end of the week. The noise wasn't there this morning and it really didn't pull badly. Its really weird with this issue, its either there and annoying or not there at all.

what are your tire pressures?
32 all around is what they are currently set as of Sunday AM.

[Fingjosh]

ne1 wanna make bets on wat it is? :naughty: haha

[Carbonized_GT]

seriously? no one said get an alignment?

To check your ball joints, jack up your car, take the wheel thats causing the problem, and shake it top to bottom, hands on 12 and 6 o'clock and wobble it.

[Patches]

A few years back I hit a pole on the drivers side, messed up my fender area pretty good, but my car did many of the things yours is doing right now. Get above a certian speed, and it would dart to the right and then back. Very scary feeling. I was told it was because the strut was "way" out of alignment, I mean way out.

Other than that I would check the wheel bearing on the side that squeeked.

-later

[vegeta4ss]

yeah so far everything is tight in there. I didn't know how to check the ball joint so i'll do that this afternoon.

ugh, wheel bearing. That's gonna suck to replace.

[Patches]

I wouldn't think that it is too hard to change out if need be. I've done them on other cars with no problem, I know that's "other" cars though.

Trying to shake the tire is not a reliable way of checking for a bad wheel bearing either. The big problem with wheel bearing failure is axel damage; if it has worn the axel and you replace the bearing it may wear the bearing again.

You may already know this but if not I'm just throwing it out there so you know.

-later and good luck

[Carbonized_GT]

Trying to shake the tire is not a reliable way of checking for a bad wheel bearing either.


Ball Joint.

[vegeta4ss]

an update: Let the phantasm crew look at it this past weekend. Alignment is still pretty good but we made some minor adjustments. Axle is not bent on that side. Tie rod end has a little extra slack than usual. Endlinks are fine. Next weekend the LCA bushings are coming out and ES ones are going in, and at the steering rack too. Hopefully the install next weekend will eliminate this problem completely.

After rotating the tires when checking all this the problem is hardly noticeable. It feels much better driving now.....but I still dont know what the cause is/was. I know a lot of things that "it isn't", but still would like to track this down just for future knowledge/troubleshooting.

thanks for all the replies so far.

[fastcelicagt22]

any new info? I have a similar problem. Im about to replace the inner tie rods because the passenger has play when the steering wheel is locked.