Gollum Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 I'm writing this half to just mention my experience, but also as one more thread for the search engine to bring up when others have similar symptoms: Wandering Steering Bumps Causing Steering Changes Braking Causing Random Steering Change Noises Coming From Suspension At Low Speeds And Over Bumps So here's the story - Car was low on gas, dangerously low, but I had to get to work and I knew it would make it there and then to a station at lunch time. Heading up hill I hit a pothole BAD. The kind that can swallow small cars. I was checking my blind spot as there was a short onramp I was passing... Car dies for a few seconds, I give it some small throttle increase, it jumps to life and then dies again... Uh oh. Pull over right near the crest of the hill. Good thing hazards work. Big shoulder so I can work without too much worry about traffic wind knocking me over. I open the hood and check everything. First check for leaking of any kind. Then I checked for major dents on the left side where I hit. Checked for anything that might have come disconnected... Then I noticed the inner side bushing to my TC Rod wasn't even thouching the frame!!! Ahhh! That's not good. Well I couldn't find anything mechanically wrong so I go ahead and try to start the engine. Won't start. I gave it another go and let the engine turn over for a while giving it some throttle. Still nothing. Take one more look at everything. Still couldn't find anything else wrong so I hop back in and turn it over again. Nothing. One more try right? Voila, it fires up just fine. I think I just sucked up a lot of air when I hit the pot hole, close the hood and head to work. Long story short (too late I know), the right TC rod was extremely loose. The left TC Rod bolt was GONE, and was probably at least loose when I got the car. Through some twist of fate the bushing had stayed on because it was colliding with the downpipe, lovely melted rubber batman. So I made a trip down to the hardware store and picked up some bolts to replace bothsides with some washers to make sure I had good contact against the new nut (right one that had backed out looked like a lugnut...). Car now drives 1000000000000 times better... Well maybe not THAT much better, but better enough that I had to show the girlfriend the same day. Going over bumps is not only smoother, but quieter and the car holds it's line MUCH better. This might also explain my severe inside tire wear, though some confirmation on that from someone would be nice. Braking before wasn't BAD, but it's definately improved in feel. So for those with similar symptoms, make sure your Tension Control (aka compression) Rods are tight, or even connected! My car feels 10 years newer now. Best $2 I've spent ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woldson Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Nice information Gollum! Glad you were not left standed;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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