weird movement in back

[s14slide]

Does anybody have any idea why my rear end is acting funny. What's happening is whenever my right rear tire hits a bump that's not very large (maybe 1/2" in height), the rear end seems to want to slightly veer to the right slightly. It's not enough to make me feel uncomfortable driving the car, but enough to be concerned about. I did a quick visual inspection and everything seems to be fine. As for mods, the whole rearend is stock except for some ACE hardware subframe spacers and I don' t think that they are causing it because I put them on there hoping they would at least help get rid of it. Tell me what you guys think. My next idea would probably be to just start replacing all the links back there w/ some adjustable ones, but I want to at least know what's wrong before I spend a grip of cash on new stuff and maybe still have the problem.

[Dousan_PG]

no
how about you stop being cheap and get some real subframe spacers so you know that's not the problem (eliminate that problem)

if that's not good inspect your suspension and bushings

then get yourself an alignment before you go abour replacing arms

[kalieaire]

Originally posted by dousan36
no
how about you stop being cheap and get some real subframe spacers so you know that's not the problem (eliminate that problem)

if that's not good inspect your suspension and bushings

then get yourself an alignment before you go abour replacing arms

hey alex, chill, washers work too you know. :P

[s14slide]

Originally posted by dousan36
no
how about you stop being cheap and get some real subframe spacers so you know that's not the problem (eliminate that problem)

if that's not good inspect your suspension and bushings

then get yourself an alignment before you go abour replacing arms

Well man, sometimes I have to be cheap. I've got a family to take care of so I can't just blow a load on a hundred dollar part just because I want to. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to offend anybody here but I do love my family and I do love taking care of my car. She's paid off and I don't plan on getting rid of her until she's litteraly falling apart.
Anybody want to donate some Kazama subframe spacers? I have already checked the bushings in the arms and the subframe. All of them seemed fine. Could it be because my right rear shock is pretty much shot? It's not so bad that I'm bouncing all the time, but the lack of dampening is noticable. How about the fact that my "right front" shock and spring are from an SE but I have a base model. Could that affect the rear? I think I've read somewhere that the SE had a stiffer spring or a little more aggressive dampening, and the reason I had to put that in there was because I snapped a drop spring right in the middle and it was an emergency to get the car back on the road ASAP.

[Ozone240]

Sounds like it could be a worn shock, how many miles you got on em? I can't think of a situation that it would be the subframe bushings. Reason being, the subframe is one piece, how do you wear out one side? One situation that popped into my head to suggest the shocks, was some young teenage girl driving on the lane seperator dots for a couple hundred miles, haha.

Anyway if you got the time, take out both rear shocks and see if the right one is easier to push down than the other. Also note the speed force the shock returns to its position.


kevin

[kalieaire]

yeah, i agree, fix the damper.

it's not good to have it warn out. it keeps other parts together and from shaking apart. ^_o

[s14slide]

I was afraid I would have to spend more money. Now I have to put my LSD install on hold till I get this suspension prob out the way. I'll probably go to the same car I got the front right from and snatch up the right rear one too. Maybe it can hold out till after I get my LSD installed, being that after that suspension was next on my plans. What you guys think??

Thanks for the opinions on my problem.

edit: Hey Kailiaire, I just noticed you have a '93 taurus wagon. That just strikes me as funny because I just happened to pick up a '94 wagon last month. Can't wait to put it to good use and pick up an engine and haul all my other stuff from the yard.

[deviousKA]

if your car actually feels like the rear end is turning out and you have to almost correct it with steering wheel, it is not your shocks, your rears anyway. i would check your t/c rods up front, even if they are visibly in good condition. pull your ebrake when parked and rock your front wheels back and forth watching the tension rod/bushing. if there is an odd amout of play that could very possibly be your problem. if its just body roll or bounce your shocks could be

[s14slide]

Originally posted by devious
if your car actually feels like the rear end is turning out and you have to almost correct it with steering wheel, it is not your shocks, your rears anyway. i would check your t/c rods up front, even if they are visibly in good condition. pull your ebrake when parked and rock your front wheels back and forth watching the tension rod/bushing. if there is an odd amout of play that could very possibly be your problem. if its just body roll or bounce your shocks could be

It's not so bad that I have to correct any and I highly doubt that it's the t/c rod bushings as they are poly as of six months ago. Also, I don't get anything that feels like play when the front tire hits a bump, only when the rear does. I do have front lower control arm bushing I still need to install (been sitting in my trunk since I put in the t/c bushings).
Thanks for the ideas, but right now the shock is sounding like the best idea.

Any other ideas out there?

[kalieaire]

get an alignment, maybe you have too much bumpsteer.

btw, if you haven't been driving the s13 for more than three months consecutively and daily, the car feels REALLY twitchy.

I've passed that three month mark now and it feels like the ford. :P


--------BTW, hope you don't have the 3.8L, it blows headgaskets every 60k. :P Take care of your transmission, if it doesn't ALREADY have an aftermarket secondary or aftermarket standalone tranny fluid cooler installed, BUY AN AFTERMARKET ONE ASAP BEFORE YOUR TRANNY DIES!!!.

Also, change the tranny fluid and filter. ^_o. have a nice day.

[s13rookie]

are you referring to the 3.8 6 in most fords, if so i agree with you totally, my parents windstar blew its head gasket at 80k, its at 102k now, and starting to do it again

my mom loves vans, i dont know why, but im working on having her buy a quest, new ones are sweet

[phats14]

My car does the samething too, i'm still trying to figured out, what's causing it.

can it be the driveshaft?

[JEDubzII]

Originally posted by phats14
can it be the driveshaft? [/B]
highly unlikely... since it's a side-to-side difference specifically on the right.

[s14slide]

Originally posted by kalieaire
get an alignment, maybe you have too much bumpsteer.

btw, if you haven't been driving the s13 for more than three months consecutively and daily, the car feels REALLY twitchy.

I've passed that three month mark now and it feels like the ford. :P


--------BTW, hope you don't have the 3.8L, it blows headgaskets every 60k. :P Take care of your transmission, if it doesn't ALREADY have an aftermarket secondary or aftermarket standalone tranny fluid cooler installed, BUY AN AFTERMARKET ONE ASAP BEFORE YOUR TRANNY DIES!!!.

Also, change the tranny fluid and filter. ^_o. have a nice day.

I have an S14, hence the name. Yeah, I do think I need an alignment, it's been a little more than a year now since I've had one. And as far as the wagon goes, I got the 3.0. I got it at KBB wholesale price(haggled) and w/ 118000 miles. Not to shabby IMO. Well thanks for the ideas guys.