car wobbles/sways?

[firebird19_99]

idk if this should go here or in engine bc i dont know what might be wrong with it. sometimes when i slow down or just stop my car begins to shake or wobble....id like to say it comes from the back of the car but not sure if its from the engine. Anyone know what it could be? pretty sure this has been asked b4 but search was messed up

[steddy]

Re: car wobbles/sways?

You sure you didn't slip a belt on the tires or the brakes are worn?

[cam98aro]

Re: car wobbles/sways?

sounds like warped rotors or something?

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: car wobbles/sways?

When you are in the process of slowing down, or when you are stopped?

[poncho1961]

Re: car wobbles/sways?

When you are in the process of slowing down, or when you are stopped?

As asked above, it would help in the diagnosis. If happens when slowing down then as suggested it could be tires or brakes. If happens when stopped, is idle low? Happen only when running A/C or in defrost? Broken motor mount letting engine jump around at low idle. Does it go away if you slightly step on the gas?

[ssms5411]

Re: car wobbles/sways?

Yes, more info is needed, could be a bad tranny mount or engine mount if it is at idle, if will stopping could be tires or warped rotors.

[firebird19_99]

Re: car wobbles/sways?

As asked above, it would help in the diagnosis. If happens when slowing down then as suggested it could be tires or brakes. If happens when stopped, is idle low? Happen only when running A/C or in defrost? Broken motor mount letting engine jump around at low idle. Does it go away if you slightly step on the gas?

the brakes are worn out, and this happens both when slowing down and when at a stop. Idle is perfect and the a/c or defroster doesnt effect....i was thinking it might be the motor mount but now i think it might b the brakes since their worn, but would the brakes cause it to do that when its not moving?(it does go away after stepping on the gas)

[parkplace101]

Re: car wobbles/sways?

bad or worn rotors can give that effect on the car...

[poncho1961]

Re: car wobbles/sways?

Car would'nt continue to wobble after it was stopped if it was the brakes or tires. Not unless it was wobbling so bad it almost knocked you out of the seat when you first stopped. :) I would look at mounts. If it does it in park, pop the hood and watch the engine. Should be a little movement but not alot. It would be a rocking motion. If tranny mount is broken, you may see an end to end sliding motion as well as the rocking motion. Have someone blip the throttle while you watch the engine. A broken motor mount will allow the engine to rock up on the other mount more than it should. The tranny mount would allow for the engine to slide side to side instead of the normal rocking. I would think this would show up under hard acceleration or downshifting tho more than just slowing and stopping.

[steddy]

Re: car wobbles/sways?

Car would'nt continue to wobble after it was stopped if it was the brakes or tires. Not unless it was wobbling so bad it almost knocked you out of the seat when you first stopped. :) I would look at mounts. If it does it in park, pop the hood and watch the engine. Should be a little movement but not alot. It would be a rocking motion. If tranny mount is broken, you may see an end to end sliding motion as well as the rocking motion. Have someone blip the throttle while you watch the engine. A broken motor mount will allow the engine to rock up on the other mount more than it should. The tranny mount would allow for the engine to slide side to side instead of the normal rocking. I would think this would show up under hard acceleration or downshifting tho more than just slowing and stopping.

Agreed on that. I didn't take it in fully that he was stopped and it would rock. Very well could be mounts. I saw slowing down and it reminded me of when my rotors were warped and the front control arm bushings were trashed. What a ride coming down from speed.

[firebird19_99]

Re: car wobbles/sways?

thnx guys i at least have something to check now....ill check it out later, in class right now....anyone know how much for the motor mount and how hard it would be to replace? thanks

[zymose]

Re: car wobbles/sways?

Whats your voltage read when you are stopped? This might be a shot in the dark, but my old grand prix would bog down the engine sometimes when the brake lights were on and it was at low idle and shudder a little. It would especially do it with my headlights on. Infact, I could see my lights flicker brighter when it would shudder. I can't remember if it was my battery or alternator, but they both got replaced eventually.

Good luck

[IceHammer]

Re: car wobbles/sways?

Just to be safe, check your tie rod ends too. I once got an intermittent wobbling during stopping on an uneven road / turning and took a look at one of the tie rods and it was about ready to fall off. However the wobble happen so infrequently I almost didn't even bother to check thinking it was an alignment issue. The car handles worn parts like a champ, but you might be closer to breakage than you'd think.

[Jaysan]

Re: car wobbles/sways?

is it possible for unbalanced front tires or warped rotors to mess up the alignment in a car ? Can the rear wheels be aligned ?

[Jaysan]

Re: car wobbles/sways?

any one know ????