96 GTS Handling Issues

[saws]

Have a 96 GTS that I bought about 5 months ago. Has 56K miles on it. The car starts getting a little loose on the freeway at 50+ mph. Going straight, holding on to the steering wheel with both hands and all of a sudden the car does a little swerve for no reason. Like hitting a slippery spot, but there is no ice. Just enough to scare me going any faster. Has new tires and recent alignment. Freeway and local roads are relatively smooth. I have heard the car's handling can be affected by ruts on the road/uneven pavement especially with the wide tires. Suspension is all stock, shocks need to be replaced and all the rubber bushings. Just recently had control arm end links replaced front/rear. Any one had similar experience?

 

[GTS Dean]

I would get the back wheels off the ground. Grab each at 3 & 9 and rock them back and forth. You should have zero to barely perceptible movement. If more, you need inner tie rods. If they are stable, look for obviously unbalanced wishbone adjuster cams at each corner. This causes unbalanced caster angles and nervous handling. They should be fairly straight up in the ears. Report back.

 

[Goggles Pizano]

Dean posted some pictures of the cams in another thread.

 

[GTS Dean]

Gen 3 Alignment issues

So I have had my car at 2 high end places (the do lambos, farrari, vetts etc and neither could align my 05. They stated that they didn't have the tools to do so after specifically asking if they could do it. The last place said that a hand held computer is needed. From what I have been reading...

www.viperclub.org

 

[lane_viper]

Before I replaced the rear toe links my 96 felt similar to what you are describing.

After replacing them and suspension bushings and a good alignment, car felt way different than before.

Hope that helps.

 

[saws]

Thanks everyone. Will try these suggestions and let you know how it goes!

 

[Brian Kelly]

Ours has done that since day 1. Seems worse when tires are cold and on 2 lane roads that may have uneven lanes with ruts / troughs. May be some suspension issue as well but my $0.02 is that it's the wide tires on one side or the other heading for a more "stable" state, but then the other side tries the same feat. Good luck!

 

[kssssnake]

Mine was a wheel bearing.

 

[Peter Kater]

Have a 96 GTS that I bought about 5 months ago. Has 56K miles on it. The car starts getting a little loose on the freeway at 50+ mph. Going straight, holding on to the steering wheel with both hands and all of a sudden the car does a little swerve for no reason. Like hitting a slippery spot, but there is no ice. Just enough to scare me going any faster. Has new tires and recent alignment. Freeway and local roads are relatively smooth. I have heard the car's handling can be affected by ruts on the road/uneven pavement especially with the wide tires. Suspension is all stock, shocks need to be replaced and all the rubber bushings. Just recently had control arm end links replaced front/rear. Any one had similar experience?

Hi there,
I have a 97 GTS in pristine condition (12k miles) and my 2 cents is the "rubber bushings" might be the culprits there.
Their lifespan is about 18y.
Had mine replaced (just like that, because they were passed their lifespan and just showing very light cracks) by Polyurethan bushings. Wauu.. Just night and day!!
I would recommend you to do the shocks, definitely the bushings (go with Polyurethan ones!!) and make sure you re-do the complete geometry + check you have fresh rubber and that your wheels are cracks free (cast aluminum technology on a 96 GTS like yours isn't a good thing over 20y of age...
And your car should handle like spanking new!
Just keep us all posted please and good luck making your snake hold on to the tarmac the way it should!

 

[saws]

Hi everyone,

Finally have an update.

I had the original 27 yr old shocks replaced with BC Racing coilovers, new tierod ends, new polyurethane bushings, and new front upper ball joints. The car handles amazing now. No more issues on the freeway at speed.

Can anyone recommend the best setting for the dampening so that ride isn't too hard and not too soft? I am a weekend cruiser, not tracking it yet. Not sure where the coilovers are currently set at after getting it back from my mechanic as he wanted to get the alignment done first. Will be getting another alignment done tomorrow and adjusting the dampening on Friday. It is very hoppy and seems to feel every bump. Definitely, not as soft as the 27 year old shocks. Is it set too stiff? Will the ride soften with time? Understand that there are 30 settings to adjust the dampening.

Thanks!

 

[TEALLIFE]

Hi everyone,

Finally have an update.

I had the original 27 yr old shocks replaced with BC Racing coilovers, new tierod ends, new polyurethane bushings, and new front upper ball joints. The car handles amazing now. No more issues on the freeway at speed.

Can anyone recommend the best setting for the dampening so that ride isn't too hard and not too soft? I am a weekend cruiser, not tracking it yet. Not sure where the coilovers are currently set at after getting it back from my mechanic as he wanted to get the alignment done first. Will be getting another alignment done tomorrow and adjusting the dampening on Friday. It is very hoppy and seems to feel every bump. Definitely, not as soft as the 27 year old shocks. Is it set too stiff? Will the ride soften with time? Understand that there are 30 settings to adjust the dampening.

Thanks!

with my BCs I started about 6 clicks from soft and it was way too soft (I'm mostly street driving with not the best roads) and it was terrible. Bumped it up to somewhere around 16 (middle between hard/soft) and it's so much better.

Also, it felt hoppy on soft. The dampening just wasnt right for the spring rates I guess. I have the standard BC springs.

 

[Goggles Pizano]

You never specified what spring rates you purchased.

Search the forum(s) for setting on them and how to dial them in.