98 SC300
MKIV TT wheels with new tires
New Tokico blues with new mounts all around.
stock springs
new Daizen rack bushings
new Daizen sway bar bushings front and back
180k miles
Rack does not leak
Wheel alignment done with new tires about 6k miles ago.


Ok, I can't quite figure out what the issue is. While driving on nice flat surfaces the car drives straight and true. Going over any uneven surfaces or grooves and the front end feels squirly and wants to follow the grooves or roadwalk a little. I hear no noises from the front end.
I was wondering if it was because of the 17x8 wheels in front, or maybe wheel bearings, maybe my rack is dying out???

Opinions...suggestions???

Would bad sway bar end links cause this?

 

lower/upper balljoints?

If it is, you need to get the entire control arm..

 

some tires tramline more than others, even when new

$.02

 

Check your balljoints on each side and your lower control arm bushings.. and yes your sway bar links could cause this.

 

Process of elimination will go the cheapest route first. Suggestion on PROPER testing of balljoints?

Forgot to mention that the ride is pretty firm with the TT wheels and Tokicos. In fact it can be somewhat harsh over bumpy roads. Also another way to describe how it feels sometimes is a little "floaty" in the front.

 

More than likely Lower control arm Bushings, I had the same issue and changed the complete lower arms and perfect again.
Carson Lexus Toyata CA has the best deal $225 per arm

Good luck,
Will

 

I'm adding symptoms as I remember them.

Also when you apply the brakes it can sometimes swerve a little.

 

That sounds like control arm bushings to me. When the bushings wear out they can let the wheel move forward and back... on braking, this is amplified and would cause the steering wheel to jerk even.

 

don't forget to check to see that the subframe is torqued down to the frame.

 

They are.

I drove a good ways down the interstate yesterday and it was nice and straight. Drove down a Farm/Market road for a few miles and could feel it being a little squirly. Now when I had my alignment done, they did not advise me of any worn out components, and believe me, most shops chomp at the bit at that kinda stuff. When out on the highway it will not pull any direction.

Any opinions on wheel bearings?

 

Not sure why you're fighting the bushing diagnosis...

If your control arm bushings are warn, it WON'T be squirly on the highway when you're going straight over mostly smooth roads (unless they are completely destroyed).

The car will get wiggly over bumps and road imperfections, or uneven surfaces.

 

I'm not. I want all opinions before I drop big $$$ on bushings or controls arms just because so and so said that's the problem.

 

A lot of shops wont notice the bushings by sight. They may LOOK fine (because its compressed). But sometimes they seperate when you pull them out.

By process of elimination, front bushings.

You can check for play in the LCA by taking a pry bar between the bushing and the subframe. If its any bit loose, bushings are bad.

And if you DIY, its not big money, its $60 for prothane bushings for the front...

 

i would say loud and noisey tires

 

Seriously? At low speeds it seems like my tires make a lot of noise.