Hey guys, I DID search for this but didn't really see anything similar.

OK, I bought a 1990 Vert last Friday in Virginia Beach, VA and drove it back to Atlanta, GA.(600 miles) One of the things I noticed on the entire drive is that the front end seems to wander/roam around as your driving down the highway. I'm not sure exactly how to describe but its very annoying in the rain and wind etc..

I'm sure that this problem is somewhat common to this car because I remember having the exact same experience with my other '91 Vert when I got it. I cant remember if I just got used to it or if the new shocks and springs I put on fixed it.

Has anyone else had this issue and corrected it?

 

Get a 4 wheel alignment.

 

It's most likely alignment. Any noises? Any vibration? Could be a number of things.

 

NO noises and NO vibrations. The car drives smooth. It just seems like one minute your wandering to left and then wandering to the right etc... I have seen some postings where the people describe that the front end feels light or as if it is coming off the ground but I am not sure if we are trying to describe the same problem or not. I WILL get an alignment but I would like to wait until I get a nice set of shocks & springs installed.

 

No, it is not an inherent problem with the car.
It's most likely an alignment problem.
Excessive toe-out can do this.
Also, check for weird wear on the front tires.

If you got the resources, jack the front end up and tug on the tires.
Excessive slop could be the cause of worn / bad bearings / ball joints.
Check the strut tops - they are usually bad by now if original.

Check for signs of a front end accident.
Front end damage will never make the car drive like new again.


-Ted

 

Since the car is almost twenty years old, it is very likely that all the suspension components and bushing are worn and need replacing. Check the inner and outer tie rods, and ball joints. Check your front wheel bearings too. I also have a 90 GXL. On one occassion, the inner tie rod end went bad and caused the front end to wander. On another occassion, the rear DTSS bushings went bad and the wandering rear end give the impression that there was a problem with the front end. I installed the DTSS eliminator bushings, which solved this problem. Good luck in finding and correcting your problem.

Hot_Dog
90 RX7 GXL

 

Bad roads? How wide are your tires? Go get the alignment done, check the steering also.

The car is 18 years old, something has to be broken.

 

sub frame could be really out of alignment? alignment ftw and make sure check the rear alignment as well.

 

you ever wonder WHEN the WHEEL BEARINGS were replaced? just a suspicion... and a guess...

 

+1

 

Alignment FTW!!! Could also be wheel bearings, they could be the culprit, running good for a second, then going bad, then running fine again, then bad. It may be what's causing drag and causing you to pull to one side or the other.

Also check your brakes to see if your pad retaining springs aren't shot and causing a pad to drag on your rotor.

Also check your tire pressure.

 

your pillow ***** are worn out?

 

Check the two bolts on the strut.The ones that Hold the Spindle onto the Shock assembly.if they are loose the Steering will shudder and Sometimes when you go around a corner you will hear a Clunk,.,that is the Spindle moving the strut outwards.Other things that would affect your front end are Tie rods,Ball Joints,the size of Tire on the front(say a 60 series tire)..wheel bearings,and strut mounts..anyhow that is some stuff you can check..Cheers STYX.

 

OK guys, thanks for all of the good info. I will check all of that very soon.