Club126UK

Fiat 126 Chat => Fiat 126 Mechanical Problem Solving => Topic started by: Bolek on October 10, 2014, 08:34:50 AM

Title: Wandering / Swaying at Highway speed!?
Post by: Bolek on October 10, 2014, 08:34:50 AM

my car drives well at lower speeds but on the highway it wanders and sways like crazy, rocking back and forth and all over the place!   a bit unsettling.

Anything specific to the maluch that could cause this?    I made sure air pressure was factory, and front steering bushings mostly new.

is it time for an alignment or what else could it be?

Title: Re: Wandering / Swaying at Highway speed!?
Post by: Gadge on October 10, 2014, 10:30:02 AM

Maybe your shocks? Give each corner a good bounce and see how many times it goes up and down before it stops moving. Any more than 1 and and half times then your shocks are bust and need replacing. If there ok then have a look at your steering knuckles

Title: Re: Wandering / Swaying at Highway speed!?
Post by: smallcox on October 11, 2014, 08:59:22 PM

Hi, check your rear bearings then rear toe angle as positive toe on rear is bad news and will cause an unsafw. ride

Title: Re: Wandering / Swaying at Highway speed!?
Post by: Bolek on October 16, 2014, 10:30:27 PM

so I figured out the problem - thanks to good old google!   found a thread about some guy's WRX with the same problem, he got new tires installed and car started wandering.

sure enough - my front tires are quite new (like this when I recently bought the car) and rears fairly worn.

A quick Tire swap front-to-back and the wandering is gone!   :)   Car is high speed very stable and handles beautifully.

(that said I did still inspect shocks and some oil leaking at front - although the bounce test reveals they are still absorbing shock well)