Back of car want to turns right???Any helpful ideas

Pictureman

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If i'm crusing around 70 in 4th gear and punch it, it feels like the back tires want to veer off to the right slightly. When shifting the car seems to roll from one side to the other, kind of like when a car is sitting still and you punch the gas and the car/engine shifts to one side. I haven't looked underneath yet but does anyone know what to look for?
Tim
 

PhoenixGTS

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For a point of reference, when my car spins the tires the rear moves to my left. Check the half shafts. They would make a racket if broke, but for example my driver's side right now has an injured inboard u-joint which might make it feel funy if I spun the tires. Check the a-arm mounting points also. Last idea I have is a sticking brake caliper.
 

Cop Magnet

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All good suggestions, but one dumb question...are you on a flat surface? If you are on the right side of a road with a significant crown, the rear will slide "downhill" under spin.
 
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Pictureman

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Thanks everyone, I would have never thought of a messed up brake but that makes sense. It has about 12,000 miles on it and hasn't had new brakes yet. It feels kind of cool to drive, when you clutch it to shift gears it rolls slightly one way and then when you let the clutch out it shifts the other way, but it didn't do that before so I'm thinking it might have a little problem.
 

fuelman

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When I blew my Posi the car would try to move to to the next lane on every shift. Jack up the back of the car and spin one of the rear tires, if the other tire doesn't move than you may have a posi problem. I found out about mine on the track, wasn't fun I almost met MR Guardrail!
 
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Pictureman

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fuelman That's exactly what mine's doing and exactly what i'm worried about. Mines a 2001 GTS, is that the model yours did that?
Tire pressure LR 27 RR 26 Front 26 and 24
 

SingleMalt

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fuelman That's exactly what mine's doing and exactly what i'm worried about. Mines a 2001 GTS, is that the model yours did that?
Tire pressure LR 27 RR 26 Front 26 and 24

Not that it's a big deal, but why are you running such low pressures? Really -- you should be in the mid to high 30s.
 

v10kingsnake

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my guess is that he just checked um and posted what they are, i dont think he intended to put different pressure in each tire. correct the air but this is not your problem.
 

joe117

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I'm thinking one of your rear suspension bushings is weak, worn or softer than the others.

The slight movement in the worn bushing when you punch it, is letting one of the axles move forward or back.

This is causing some steering by the rear end when under high power.

When you accelerate, the wheels try to move forward, down the road. The car is attached to the wheels and axle by arms with bushings.

If the rear is moving right under high power, I would say that the problem is on the left side.

The left tire is moving slightly forward in an arc. This is causing the rear to move right.
 
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Pictureman

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I looked under it and the bushings seem okay and the tires spin together. I tried to move the tires to see if anything moved and the left one didn't move at all but the right one moved back and forth about 1/4 inch. The tie rod end on the right has a lot of play in it so maybe that tire is turning to the right?? It moves where nut tightens on not in the joint of it, it still has the cotter pin in it so I don't think the nut should have come loose. So i'm guessing it needs a tie rod end and an alignment.
Tim
 

Dimitrios

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before i got my car alignment at chucks at 60 MPH or so and step on gas lightly the back would kick out and the car would shift sideways. chuck took care of this with 4 wheels alignment.
 

Viper Wizard

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It moves where nut tightens on not in the joint of it, it still has the cotter pin in it so I don't think the nut should have come loose. So i'm guessing it needs a tie rod end and an alignment.
Tim

Tim,
Before you buy a tie-rod, take the cotter pin out and try to tighten the nut [25 ft lbs]. If you can get a turn or so, that should fix your problem? Be sure to install a new cotter pin!
 
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Pictureman

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Hey Chuck that fixed it. Tighten it to 25 lbs. (2 cotter pin notches) and took it out and drove it and no wierd handling. Thanks everyone for making a wierd problem easy to locate and fix. How should I invoice that? Like $300 for handling problem fix = $1 for turning a nut 1/4 turn and $299 for knowing which nut to turn.
Tim
 

cgmaster

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Chuck is that a temporary fix until he can get an alignment? I was just thinking if the tie rod was loose it may have gotten out of alignment.
 

Viper Wizard

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Chuck is that a temporary fix until he can get an alignment? I was just thinking if the tie rod was loose it may have gotten out of alignment.

The alignment should be OK. I have found many like Tim's and I've checked the alignment on them and found that they where within specs. Just one more thing to check on Vipers.
 

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