02 ls rear end sway

[bfrey92]

hey guys i searched high and low for the answer and no luck so hopefully somebody here can tell me whats going on. i recently just purchased a 2002 lincoln ls v8 for dirt cheap because it was involved in an accident nothing too terrible just a radiator(which was an absolute pain) driver door and a passenger fog light oh and a windsheild anyway it has 264k miles on her and on the short ride home from the original owners house to mine when i hit 40 and let of the gas the rear end sways like im turning the steering wheel back and forth. my buddy that followed me said it looked horrible that the rear end really was going one side to the other any idea's?

 

[joegr]

Well, there are several parts to wear out back there, so you really need to take a good look and see what is going on. The obvious thing (that should have had dozens of search results) is failed or worn out rear toe links. They determine which direction the rear wheels point, and are responsible for the passive rear steer. There's even a thread on it on the front page four or five posts down from yours.

 

[bfrey92]

im sorry for posting a new thread then i just didnt have any idea where to even start

 

[joegr]

That's okay.
The native search on the site is terrible. Search this way instead.
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en..._occt=any&safe=images&as_filetype=&as_rights=

Example: https://www.google.com/search?hl=en...d+sway+site:http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/

 

[bfrey92]

sweet thank you so much. ive never been so happy and so angry at a car in my entire life

 

[1LoudLS]

i just didnt have any idea where to even start

I would have started with the search bar...

but since its here, I also would put my money on at least part of the problem being the rear toe links.

however, with that car having more miles on that the greatest distance between the earth and the moon, it greatly possible that there are a LOT of worn out parts on the rear that are in need of replacing.



you will need to get under it and actually what the problem(or combinations of problems) is.


I hope it was very cheap, LS's that have been around the block that many times tend to need a whole lot of money to keep running.

 

[joegr]

That was a $40K+ car when it was new. You probably bought it for less than 1/10 of that. Expect to put a lot of money and labor in if you want it to be anything like it was when it was new or even nearly new. If you do, you can stop being mad at it and start really being happy with it.

 

[joegr]

...however, with that car having more miles on that the greatest distance between the earth and the moon, ...

On the plus side, surely it either was late enough in 02 to get the metal timing tensioners, or someone has already replaced the plastic ones.

 

[bfrey92]

it was 500$. i attempted many times to search but the only results i got for what i was searching for was on a mark VIII and i wasnt sure if they were similar i guess i shouldve searched to see if they were. i havent had the chance to put it on a lift yet due to the fact it needed a radiator and ive been busy taking it out and converting it to an electric fan setup

 

[FDR]

Are you sure it's the radiator? Are you aware of the LS and it's need for a cooling system overhaul?

 

[bfrey92]

Yeah a hole in it about the size of a silver dollar

 

[1LoudLS]

well, that will surely do it.

 

[bfrey92]

got the radiator in runs A+ drives horrible im going to take it in to a buddys shop and let them put it on their fancy alignment rack and shake her down

 

[FDR]

Yeah a hole in it about the size of a silver dollar

Haha, fair enough. There are just a lot of radiators (and fans, and thermostats) thrown at the LS for overheating problems when 10 minutes on this site will show you that's not the solution...

But no, you were right. It was the radiator

 

[joegr]

Actually, the radiators do crack too. Both of mine have. It seems like they last about twice as long as the other plastic parts.