Car wanders under acceleration

[jon gould]

Hi, can anyone help me with a very unnerving problem please ?

When you are at cruising speed the car wanders alarmingly if you try and accelerate. At lower speeds or when decelerating it seems fine.

Any ideas please ?

Cheers
Jon

[E_T_V]

It could be a whole range of things, but here are some possible candidates.

Excessive play in track rod ends
Excessive play in suspension ball joints
Loose suspension mounts (try the nut on the top of the front struts)
Defective suspension bushes
REALLY worn out shock absorbers
Loose wheels (yes is still does happen)
defective tyre

As you say it happens under acceleration at speed then it is most likely to be a problem with the front end, but check the rear wheel nuts all the same


The easiest way to check all of this is to jack up the front end, support it suitable on axle stands and without removing the wheels give them all a good wobble and tug to check for play in the various components as they do on the MOT.

[mgdavid]

could also be:-

uneven tyre pressures
a directional tyre on the wrong way round
different tyre makes / patterns on the front wheels

[MaestroMatt]

I was having this problem and it turned out to simply be knackered old tyres. Still, I doubt anyone else would be stupid enough to still drive around on the original twenty year old tyres as I was doing up until this Saturday. Now the proud owner of a nice new set of Uniroyals (they're good in the rain, don'tcha know) and she cruises smoothly at any speed (not that I would go upwards of 70) without any wavering or juddering.

[jon gould]

Ta for the replies. I`ll be giving it the once over this weekend.

Jon

[E_T_V]

Original tyres, what those Goodyear GT 40s? Oh no they aren't on the front of my car still, honest. They do squeal like a girl with a mouse down her bra when you turn corners in the car though :D

[Beaker]

How'd you know what a girl with a mouse down her bra sounds like? :laugh:

[MaestroMatt]

Originally posted by E_T_V
Original tyres, what those Goodyear GT 40s? Oh no they aren't on the front of my car still, honest. They do squeal like a girl with a mouse down her bra when you turn corners in the car though :D

Yeah - I kept them as I rather liked the big GRAND PRIX around the tyre! Mine were also making a lovely squealing noise as they slid effortlessly and seemingly without friction across all three lanes every time I tried to turn right at a roundabout! Nowadays, I can't get the back to go out without real effort but I prefer it to driving what felt like a breeze block on casters.