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Car wonders
Last month driving on slippery road I hit the curb with front passenger side wheel.
As a result I have control arm, wheel bearing and the wheel replaced. All OEM parts. Car aligned. Tire rebalanced. Dealer assured me that car is back to its original state. After that when accelerating (entering highway or so), I feel that car is not quite stable. Sometimes it slightly wanders, sometimes I am having that warning that wheels are slipping (ESC or so). In any case I am not comfortable with the way it drives. Car is currently at the dealer and I am trying to prepare myself for a conversation with the Service Adviser. Just in case if they will tell me that nothing wrong (or they can't find any problem). Any ideas what wrong could be with the car? |
You should ask if they checked the frame alignment. A hit hard enough to damage the parts you mentioned could do even more damage.
Was the tire also replaced or original tire switched to new wheel? Old tire could also be damaged causing strange handling. A new tire might not match up well with the 3 original tires. I would request both front tires be replaced. |
That what I was afraid of. Just wondering if it would be possible to align the frame properly?
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Agreed on the tires-definitely change tires in pairs. Also double check if both upper and lower control arms were replaced. both may have needed replacement. Also have them check and/or replace the inner and outer tie rods
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My ES wonders what life is like outside the garage. :)
It almost sounds like you're saying that the car pulls to one side as the wheels are spinning. Are the roads snow covered, or covered in salt? When a car wanders, it usually does it at speed, not upon initial take off. How old are your tires? |
Tires just a few months old (August 2017 I believe).
My impression on wanders based on comparison with time before I hit the curb. Car may wander with wheels spinning or without. I am having that feeling of unstable ride when approaching 60mph speed and keeping it. It is not major movement from side to side but noticeable. The feeling is like when driving on icy or snowy road at 40+mph. Before accident car just accelerated staying still in lane. Now it is not. Roads are dry in Denver |
I wonder why your car wanders... :D
Let us know what the dealer says. |
Having had an Avalon and two ES's that wondered, I was especially interested in this post. There is a thred "ES300h steering and tracking issues" dates back to 6/29/16. Check post #17. Tells how one member resolved this issue. All alignments are not equal. Dave
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Got a VM from dealer. They said that mechanic and his boss did the test drive and couldn't find any problems.
They inviting me come in and do the test drive with them. I am skeptical because I don't see a benefit of that. sparkyd - I did checked that thread and seems that my issue is slightly different. I have no issues with steering, but mostly concerned with tracking. Finally talked to my advisor and mentioned that I will probably accept their decision but in case if anything happens, I will have a paper trail. After that they wanted to keep car for another day. BTW frame alignment is OK and upper control arm also OK (as they said) |
The phrase in the original post "when accelerating (entering highway or so), I feel that car is not quite stable"
triggered a memory for me. Have the shop check out the rear alignment as well. We had a 1999 Solara that went straight as an arrow...until you floored it. The 200HP 3.0L V6 was not enough to create Torque Steer so it was baffling. Turns out that the right rear was toed out just a couple of degrees. When the car squatted down just a bit it would arc to the left. Lift the throttle and the car pitched forward a bit...arced to the right. |
Wonder why the car wanders?
Why not go on the test drive with them and listen to what they say? |
Originally Posted by Brn2fish
(Post 10105238)
Got a VM from dealer. They said that mechanic and his boss did the test drive and couldn't find any problems.
They inviting me come in and do the test drive with them. I am skeptical because I don't see a benefit of that. Roland |
On a straight and level road with the steering centered accelerate at various levels (slight pressure on gas to WFO). Does the steering wheel rotate in either direction? It really shouldn't, expect possibly slightly on the WFO test. Do it from standing start and at various rolling speeds. Make notes...
Also, on the same road, and from various speeds and with various levels of braking, with your hands off the wheel, does the wheel rotate in either direction? Report back your findings back to us... ================================= My karma just ran over your dogma Current Hers: '13 Lexus ES350 Current Mine: '15 Jaguar XF |
>On a straight and level road with the steering centered accelerate at various levels (slight pressure on gas to WFO).
Oh, sorry, but do that with your hands off the wheel (duh... ;-) |
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