Steering sway advice

tystaco

tystaco

New member
So the new 99 I picked up feels like I am floating back and forth, especially at speed but it is pretty consistent throughout. I just did the rack bushings, sway bar bushings, and LBJ's and it is still there.

The springs are original I am sure, and the shocks are probably due up too...so I will order up those and see, but I am wondering what other things people might recommend, like if there is a bad gear box or something I am unaware of in these.

I have read threads that say check the tie rods and a few other odds and ends, but none of those mentions had ways of checking those pieces...at least not that I stumbled across. So if you have any ideas and ways of quickly testing those ideas other than full on replacement, I'd appreciate hearing from you!
 
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tystaco said:
So the new 99 I picked up feels like I am floating back and forth, especially at speed but it is pretty consistent throughout. I just did the rack bushings, sway bar bushings, and LBJ's and it is still there.
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If you've done the bushings, you may have already gone through this, but since you don't mention it, have you checked the end links on the front and rear sway bars? My 1998 felt borderline unsafe at 75+ and 80 bucks and all four end links later I'm rock solid.
 
OP - you said you did the LBJs; but what about the Upper Ball Joints? Lift the LCA with a jack and then rock the tire back and forth from 12 to 6. If the ball joint visibly moves then that could be the source of your movement.
 
Define float. Lots of guys have the high speed float (including myself) due to pan hard bar bolts loose, bushings worn. If the steering wheel has a dead spot in the center, and you have somewhere north of 200K. Good Luck. I did outer tie rods, lower and upper ball joints, upper control arm bushings and tightened my steering up nicely. I also replaced the sway bar bushings (with moog) they are shredded inside 5,000 miles and haven't affected the steering thus far. I promise, if you don't go OEM or high end on this stuff, your regret will be swift. Don't make my mistakes.

If the body is floating on the interstate, Id bet your rear end has some worn bushings or loose bolts.
 
The front end links seemed fine to me while doing the bushings...however, that was my first time ever dealing with an end link. They seemed to pivot nicely, boots weren't torn..so I assumed they were okay.

I have bushings for the rear end that I can throw in this weekend and have a look at that. I've read on a few posts that using aftermarket Moog end links is okay, not as critical to go OEM?

I fear the dead spot in the steering. I really noticed this to the point of being nervous on Wednesday. I was driving up to PDX and was the first time I had the vehicle over 60 mph...doing 70 mph and getting hit with a pretty heavy crosswind I felt like I was swerving all over the place, as in going along fine and then drifting one way or the other without moving the steering wheel.
 
tystaco said:
The front end links seemed fine to me while doing the bushings...however, that was my first time ever dealing with an end link. They seemed to pivot nicely, boots weren't torn..so I assumed they were okay.
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Probably fine then - but the part that would impact sway isn't at the boot - it's at the top where they bolt on - they should have two rubber bushings. Mine were gone so it was kind of just flapping around.
 
Kyngfish said:
Probably fine then - but the part that would impact sway isn't at the boot - it's at the top where they bolt on - they should have two rubber bushings. Mine were gone so it was kind of just flapping around.
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I'm replacing my own swaybar end link bushings as an afterthought/oops-I-forgot-those-also-needed-replacing part of doing my swaybar stabilizer bushing (the D-link style one) last week. Funny how new parts can make broken ones so much more visible.
 
If the shocks are shot, that will probably be the main source of problems. Start there. All the rest will be a 'maybe this, maybe that' type of problem. While doing the shocks, look for other loose components.

-Charlie
 
phattyduck said:
If the shocks are shot, that will probably be the main source of problems. Start there. All the rest will be a 'maybe this, maybe that' type of problem. While doing the shocks, look for other loose components.

-Charlie
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I vote for this as well. Sounds like new shocks (and springs) are in order followed by an alignment; if your inner/outer tie rods are no bueno then the alignment shop will (should) let you know or be able to give you better advice.
 
so I went thru this issue myself, lower ball joints, swaybar bushings,rack bushings, shocks and struts , rear springs, many of these things were changed because they were so old but the point is none of them solved the problem, I finally pulled the rear lower control arms even though they appeared to be good while installed on the vehicle, low and behold one side of one arm had the rubber partially torn/seperating, I didnt think it was enough to cause the problem but I replaced them both (rock auto) anyway. it solved the problem. I think what happened is the loose side would shift forward and backwards slightly in effect making the rear end ever so slightly steerable. it was worse over continuous bumps and got worse the faster the speed. I think its not always the same part that solves this issue for everyone but it worked for me
 
99problems said:
I vote for this as well. Sounds like new shocks (and springs) are in order followed by an alignment; if your inner/outer tie rods are no bueno then the alignment shop will (should) let you know or be able to give you better advice.
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New 5100's and springs on the way from Chas at Moore Racing. It was in last weekend for alignment and they never said anything...but it goes back tomorrow because they didn't straighten the wheel, so I will be sure they dive in further to make up for my time loss.

If the weather lets up this weekend I will do the rear sway bar bushings.
 
Alignment was done again today as they didn't straighten the wheel last weekend after bushings and LBJ's. Asked them to have a look at everything to make sure it was tight and they couldn't find anything wrong or loose.

Will get the new suspension on, and if the rain lets up I will do the rear sway bar bushings tomorrow.
 
tystaco said:
Alignment was done again today as they didn't straighten the wheel last weekend after bushings and LBJ's. Asked them to have a look at everything to make sure it was tight and they couldn't find anything wrong or loose.

Will get the new suspension on, and if the rain lets up I will do the rear sway bar bushings tomorrow.
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Did you ever figure out your problem? I've done new upper control arms, new steering rack, new shocks and springs(toytec Boss 3" lift) proper alignment. I'm still getting it.
 
NewVillains said:
Did you ever figure out your problem? I've done new upper control arms, new steering rack, new shocks and springs(toytec Boss 3" lift) proper alignment. I'm still getting it.
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New shocks and springs in the rear are in, sway still there. Was waiting on parts for the fronts to go in, should get to it in next couple of weeks. All new rear sway bar bushings just shipped, Energy Suspension was backordered for a month, 8 sets of bushings, should be here today or by the end of the week.

Didn't put the rear sway bar bushings in from Energy Suspension when I did the rear coils because they don't give you a complete set, Prothane has a complete kit that showed up before I went on vacation, those will go in soon too.
 
Closing the Loop

My sway is gone, and I have confidence on an expressway.

Not too long after doing the rear shocks, I did the fronts and I believe the driver's side was blown. Sway was still there after that.

A month or so later, I was starting to suspect the driver's side wheel bearing was going or gone...and was right. During the wheel bearing job, I did all new OEM inner and outer tie rods. This combo ended my sway. I'd bet my main culprits were the wheel bearing and shock, but once all the work was done, the front end felt great through the wheel.

I still have the rear control arm bushings to install but haven't been in a rush since the sway is gone...bigger fish to fry, but they will get done someday.
 
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