wandering at speed

[2002firebirdguy]

Hey guys.

Ok, when my firebird gets up to speeds between 70-90mph The car really likes to wander around in the lane. I was just wondering if bigger rims/tires would fix this? Or should I got with a strut tower bar? Thanks

[slow]

the STB might help, but get your alignment checked out

wider tires will make it worse.

Try driving a viper ;)

Ryan

[2002firebirdguy]

cool thanks man. Anybody else have a take on this?

[CoreyCamaro]

I second the alignment check. That was my problem, and it was easily fixed.

[John_D.]

Is the car tracking low spots in the pavement? (like small ruts from tractor trailers on asphalt)

Or is it just darting around?

Either way, wider tires will be worse, not better.

The caster angle affects tracking.

If the alignment has too little toe-in, the car will feel darty at speed.

An alignment check would be a good idea.

[CamaroRob97]

Is it like a random wander from one direction to the other? If it is it could be your outer tie rods, but I don't see on a car that new that could happen.

Deffetially get a alignment to see what is gong on.

Wide tires do like to follow the road though.

[2002firebirdguy]

Yeah it tracks in ruts in the road and when I'm on the expressway it likes to swing back and forth.


Ok so go with the alingment check. How much does that cost?

[Dominic]

Purely alignment, an STB will not help a damn thing.

See my website for alignment numbers to follow. It should run $40-60. Try to not take it to Sears, go for somewhere that is purely an alignment shop... i.e. "Bahn Alignment, Smith Alignment, etc"

[2002firebirdguy]

Thanks for all the help everyone! I'll get an alignment!

[TheV6Bird]

I'll just chime in with the "wider tires make it worse part"...

I went from 215/60R16s to 275/40R17s all around and holy crap, they wandered like a mofo on bad parts of the highway. You do get used to it (at least I did), but hey thats the price you pay for good looks and much better handling.

[Dan Vincent]

What year is your car, how many miles, etc? When you're at the alignment shop, make sure they inspect all of your suspension and steering components (ball joints, tie rod ends, etc). When I got my new tires, they did an alignment, but failed to tell me that my tie-rod end was on its way out. WHen I had my brakes done, the guy at the shop told me I needed a new end (I figured I did - the noise the front end made wasn't nice and I noticed the wobbly wheel) and he changed the end, but didn't realign the suspension, much to my chagrin. Had to go back to the shop for another alignment. Save some dough and if you do need new suspension components, get them done first and THEN do an alignment to save yourself $30.