1986 SE V6 "Fishtails" on right turns at higher speeds (Page 2/4)
theogre SEP 13, 10:41 AM

quote
Originally posted by ArthurPeale:
It just happened so suddenly, but cars be like that, am I right?

Most suspension and many others have Metal shells and they get rust rot and can fail very slowly or instant as gets "hit" w/ high load driving over RR Tracks etc.

Shells may look good on part easy see but rotten where hidden by a CA. Use Mirror, small picks, etc to "look" in hidden shell areas.

Any Shell Rot then Bushing isn't compressed right at best and do little or nothing to hold whatever. Worse, can pass alignment on a machine even when shops actually look. Prying etc tries to emulate driving but not always good enough to find a problem.

Many "Rubber" bushings are under huge compression between outer shell and center sleeve.
Polly often forces to reused old outer shell and won't work when has Shell Rot even tho not compressed like OE types.

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 09-13-2022).]

Raydar SEP 13, 11:47 AM
Years ago, I remember someone having this issue, caused by worn out cradle bushings.
ArthurPeale SEP 13, 04:16 PM

quote
Originally posted by Raydar:

Years ago, I remember someone having this issue, caused by worn out cradle bushings.



That would not surprise me, either. When I looked at the bushings earlier this year I noted they were original. That's an operation that I won't be able to handle at home.
ArthurPeale SEP 22, 02:16 PM
Well, this has been not-so-fun.

I took it to an alignment shop that's been really good with my vehicles in the past. They're recommended by the best garage in town.

I asked that before they do anything, I'd like to see the specs, just in case it was something broken instead of just "out of alignment"

Suddenly, they told me that the car was done, and that they were going to take it for a test drive to make sure it was good.

When I asked about the back, the counter guy suddenly darts into the shop. "Did you check the rear alignment?" and the guy told me that he had not. Why would you not check the rear alignment on a 4 wheel alignment?

Put all of the sensors back on...sure enough, out of spec.

it was "done" 15 minutes later. They took it for a test drive and came back reporting that it was good to go.

They must have only driven it straight - as soon as I hit the roundabout three miles down the road I could feel that it wasn't right, and when I got off my exit I almost bought it because the steering was just WRONG. It's not even a hard turn, it's a very gentle exit to the right.

Took it out later that night just on neighborhood streets, and while I'm going down a straight street, car is suddenly veering right. Then left.

I've got a follow up tomorrow, but I'm scratching my head as to what in the heck they did to mess up the steering. The steering was one thing that was golden before this.
cvxjet SEP 22, 02:39 PM
I hate to say it, but I wouldn't trust those guys to shake my hand, let alone touch my car. There can be ownership changes, management changes, etc that will take a shop or company from "Top drawer" to "bottom-feeder".... (Fram Filters went \/\/\/ after they were bought by Allied Signal)

They definitely did something wrong up front- get a >>>GOOD<<< alignment and then maybe it will be right.
ArthurPeale SEP 22, 04:49 PM

quote
Originally posted by cvxjet:

I hate to say it, but I wouldn't trust those guys to shake my hand, let alone touch my car. There can be ownership changes, management changes, etc that will take a shop or company from "Top drawer" to "bottom-feeder".... (Fram Filters went \/\/\/ after they were bought by Allied Signal)

They definitely did something wrong up front- get a >>>GOOD<<< alignment and then maybe it will be right.



it could also be just the one guy.

The one who did the alignment a year ago seems to still be there, maybe I'll ask for him special.
Gall757 SEP 22, 05:23 PM
Fieros are not an easy alignment job......many shops just rush through it and assume the rear is fine.

Also check your motor mounts. if one has broken, the engine can move and change the axle position. Often the break is hard to see unless you jack up the engine a little.
ArthurPeale SEP 22, 05:28 PM

quote
Originally posted by Gall757:

Fieros are not an easy alignment job......many shops just rush through it and assume the rear is fine.

Also check your motor mounts. if one has broken, the engine can move and change the axle position. Often the break is hard to see unless you jack up the engine a little.



That wouldn't surprise me at all. I'd have to swivel the cradle, which involves CUTTING the bolts - they're original and frozen. Not a project I'm going to get into before the snow flies.
Gall757 SEP 22, 05:36 PM

quote
Originally posted by ArthurPeale:

I'd have to swivel the cradle, which involves CUTTING the bolts - they're original and frozen.



I don't think so. A good alignment shop should check the motor mounts as part of the job. I just suspect that they didn't....
fierofool SEP 22, 05:56 PM

quote
Originally posted by ArthurPeale:


it could also be just the one guy.

The one who did the alignment a year ago seems to still be there, maybe I'll ask for him special.



That happened to me at my favorite Firestone. New store manager. A different tech than my usual put it out with the steering wheel seriously cocked left. I had him put it back on the rack and when it was finished the brake light was on and the ebrake handle had no resistance. Back on the rack again. The tech told me he couldn't release the ebrake and someone told him to disconnect the cable. Not my favorite Firestone store anymore.

But a sudden change in steering might be that the tech didn't tighten the pinch bolt on the tie rod end or didn't tighten down an adjustable ball joint sufficiently.