I've been driving my '7 again, and I notice that the back end feels really loose over bumps and in corners - it feels like it "wiggles" over bumps at times. It also feels like it's sliding a bit in corners, but I know it's not actually sliding.

I'm suspecting something is broken in the back end - either differential mounts, or some bushings being totally shot (DTSS bushings, maybe?). Is there anything specific I should be looking for when I get the back end jacked up?

-=Russ=-

 

Bad strut! It'll make bumps feel like the rear-end is walking away.

To test it, go to each corner and start 'bouncing' the car, when you let go and stop (after getting it going back and forth a bit), it should just pop up to height and stop, if it kind of wiggles up and down and then settles, replace the strut.

 

Yup. That looks like it might be the problem.

I went out (car had been sitting for an hour or so), gave the back corner a push, and it wiggled up, down, up, down, and then locked. Subsequent pushes were a pretty solidly damped response. I guess the strut leaks or something and has to get "warmed up" to work properly.

This would also explain why it's not consistent behavior - I've noticed that if I hit a bump after being on smooth road for a while, the rear end feels goofy, but on rapidly subsequent bumps it feels pretty solid.

Thanks! Looks like I'll have to save up for some suspension parts.

-=Russ=-

 

I'm having a problem really close to this but my rear struts feel fine. Is there anything else that could cause this problem? MY car has just over 79k on it, do any bushing wear out around then or anything?

 

^

 

check control arm bushings. jack up car from body then shake tire up and down pushing the top and puling bottom then shake side to side it will make it alot easier with two people.

 

If it does move, what would the appropriate things to replace be?

-=Russ=-