Handling

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amorgan2017

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Hey guys, been putting it off for awhile now but i have some sort of handling issue. I know the LS rides a little rough on the bumps which I'm fine with. I put base instead of sport suspension when I got it. But I'm wondering if it's normal when you hit bumps where it occasionally pulls the wheel sorta. Hard to describe it I don't mean pull but jugs the tires a bit. It's also really bad at high speeds. I'm not talking 100+ I mean like 70-90. You feel like you're floating and it drifts you all over with a firm grip on the wheel. I know the floating feeling you feel in your old Impala at 100+ is normal but should I be feeling that at 70-80? Anyway it's kinda hard to drive on the freeway without a white knuckle grip on the wheel so anyone with advice I'm willing to listen/ do whatever it takes.

Thanks!
 
Do i just grab the toe links and shake them or? Would that be the ball joints joe? Has 95K on it and I do feel like it's the front but I wasn't sure. A few guys were saying it's the tires but I have a hard time believing that .
 
amorgan2017 said:
Do i just grab the toe links and shake them or? Would that be the ball joints joe? Has 95K on it and I do feel like it's the front but I wasn't sure. A few guys were saying it's the tires but I have a hard time believing that .
Click to expand...

Jack up the rear and grab the tire (one hand toward the front of the car and one toward the rear) and see if there is any play. If there is see where its coming from (bearing, control arms, or most likely toe links). If they are bad they cause loose wandering while driving. It feels like its from the front but its from the rear.
 
I suspect a front ball joint. Had the same issue earlier this year. Replaced the ball joint and all is well.
 
Ok I did that. The rear tires do not move at all. Checked the fronts out all seems well. Since I have another one I decided while the tires were off to just swap with my other one. Seems to make big difference or else I'm crazy. Took it for a 200 mile drive after. Freeway seemed to be good drove 80 most the time. Is that possible to be it? I had 245/40R18 and swapped with the stock size. I think it's 245/50/17 if I remember right. I thought alignment was the issue maybe too because the rear tires lean out a lot at the bottom but I think that's normal.

A mechanic told me with the wider tires it can create a greater angle on the rear tires. So a good way to fix it would be I think he said make the lower controls arm holes bigger? To make more adjustable I guess is what he means.

Thanks for the ideas so far. I know the rears don't move at all, I did not check the front though besides just looking seeing it looked ok. I'd assume same procedure as the rear?

Anyway it looks like I'm going to be in the market for some aftermarket 17 inch wheels yippee.
 
Ok I have been doing some shopping around. Read some old jaguar threads on different wheels and fitments. Right now I have a set of Vision shattered 454's on. But as I said they don't ride the best and they get me pulled over way too much. Right now I found a site with some awesome looking 17 inch wheels..problem is the site has no information? Has anyone heard of these guys? Or do they just advertise wheels for others?

http://driftdynamics.com/

I am kinda liking the Model R25's 17" but still undecided.

Also, off topic..have no questions how to do it other than...are these what I need to do the angel eye mod?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331840436530?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Read up on Alax7's thread and watched the video. Makes me pretty confident to give it a try..after i try it on a junk LS headlight :)
 
Largest concern would probably be worn/loose suspension and steering parts

Next would be alignment

Then tires. Size, brand, and type can affect how easily the road can change your direction

The LS does have stiff steering with a lot of road feedback. Angled bumps (where it hits one tire before the other) can jt the wheel hard enough to shock my hand (though this lessened with new tie rods)

The Gen 1 has always-stiff steering. Gen 2 is speed variable
 
FDR said:
Largest concern would probably be worn/loose suspension and steering parts

Next would be alignment

Then tires. Size, brand, and type can affect how easily the road can change your direction

The LS does have stiff steering with a lot of road feedback. Angled bumps (where it hits one tire before the other) can jt the wheel hard enough to shock my hand (though this lessened with new tie rods)

The Gen 1 has always-stiff steering. Gen 2 is speed variable
Click to expand...

Yeah I did check it out today. Its all in really nice shape. The tie rods are new. Sway links are new. The control arm bushings look great on both sides. The other set of ls tires made the difference on the float feeling. The only thing it didn't solve was the hand jerk you talked about. I guess that doesn't worry me too much if you encountered it also. We have some rough roads up here in Michigan.

I also double checked for play in the front and had none so I pulled it back off the hoist. For now I have the 18's on but I'll be shopping for 17's because even driving it on mild slippery roads this winter will probably end bad.

I did have an alignment done. I can't remember exactly but I think 1/16 off or 1/8...pretty sure said that it was outboard though.

I'm not sure how to post pictures but I always think they help with problem solving so I'll try tomorrow if I find time.

Also got the other LS repainted this weekend..looks pretty sharp!
 
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