TacoBello

As of not too long ago, I've been spending more time driving my summer toy while the TL sat parked. Well, about two weeks ago I decided to take the TL out and I kept thinking "man, the handling feels like shit on this car"

Granted, I've been a bit spoiled by the summer toy, but there's something definitely not right with the TL and it started pulling to the RIGHT even though I know I didnt hit anything. I knew I had the compliance bushings left to do, so I figured that was likely the cause of my grief. When I pulled out the lower control arms, I figured since I was already in there that I would replace all 6 bushings on the arms (3 per side). Oddly enough, none of the bushings were really even all that bad. I'd rate the compliance bushings at like a 7.0-7.5/10, in terms of wear.

When I was taking the car apart, I noticed the inside of my LEFT tire is worn badly. Like a 1" wide strip of very worn tire compared to the rest.

The TL has new sway bar end links, new compliance bushings, and new 4 other bushings. Upper ball joints don't generally need to be replaced, so I'm ruling those out- could it be my lower ball joints are pooched? How can I tell if they are? They looked okay when I seperated them from the LCA and I haven't heard any sound coming from my suspension...

Is this just a case of me needing an alignment or is there something else I should look into? I feel like the uneven tire wear happened rather quickly (although I can't prove that). If that is the case, I dont want to be driving the car on some new summer tires I have for it (the worn tires are winters and this was their last season, however, that one tire was weirdly worn even more).

Thoughts? Ideas? What to check? Don't think it matters, but the car is a 2006 TL 6MT

TacoBello

FFS... due to a certain lazy member ... Cliff's notes:

1. TL drove fine.
2. TL sat for a week.
3. next time I drove the TL it pulled to the right and I didn't hit anything
4. I replaced all LCA bushings (it was time to do so)
5. Haven't driven the car since replacing bushings.
6. I'll be going for an alignment shortly
7. Is there anything else that could be messed up? lower ball joints? How can I tell?
8. Anything else that could be pooched?

TacoBello

FFS yet again... summer toy is a Miata. Happy?!

polobunny

Driver front tire only? Ball joint isn't loose or anything?

Get an alignment. Get the specs printed prior to alignment too and share here. What's the price anyway, $60?

TacoBello

Yeah, an alignment is cheap, but if my ball joint is messed, I don't want to pay $60 now and $60 again a week later.

Maj, where are you?! Give me your advices!! Don't make me take this to 3G ramblings...

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

Ask Justn

Majofo

Toe and camber.. at minimum, get the toe back in order.

TacoBello

Any chance it can be the tie rods going? I've never really heard of people replacing them on the 3G, although I could be wrong...

TacoBello

I was thinking toe is out also, but hoping I could check other stuff. I found an old 2G post about checking suspension...

"You're describing "unloading the ball joints", which is necessary on many cars. It does NOT apply to our front ends. Both upper and lower ball joints are unloaded with the wheels hanging free.
Typically, just grab the tire and try to shake. Play at 12:00, upper ball joint. Play at 6:00, lower ball joint. Play at 9:00 or 3:00, tie rods or steering linkage."

I'm gonna try that when I get home tonight

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

Report back after you try it.

TacoBello

Don't judge me.

Majofo

Ball joint is easy.. check if it's taught. If it has a lot of play, press a new one in. Make sure you spec the castle nut and put a new cotter pin back. I doubt it's out and definitely wouldn't make it pull right. Are you on aftermarket suspension?

Also, salad for thought.. if the left tire has inside wear, that means the camber and toe are probably out. The left side is not only applying more force rightward, but with that wear, more traction as well.

Report back your numbers when you get them.

Majofo

Only if it's fucking with the alignment. If you didn't hit anything, or fuck with it. I'd rule it out.

In my experience, it has to be really out to feel for play. Play in the wheel can also be the wheel bearing.. you'd know if it was a wheel bearing though.

Definitely get a year alignment deal. Usually an alignment is 50-80.. or 1yr/3yr deal for less than the cost of 2 alignments. You might be back again, or decide on fking with the suspension, so it's worth it. Worst case, say you traded in your TL for the miata and it becomes transferable to the new car.

TacoBello

Suspension is more or less stock. A-Spec struts with Eibach springs, if I'm not mistaken. Maybe H&R springs. I don't remember. Wasn't my choice, but what the car came with.

Other than that, up front, everything is stock. FSB, end links, bushings, control arms, ball joints, tie rods, you name it.

I'm gonna take it for an alignment tomorrow. My girl at the service department is hooking me up. The Honda dealer she works at charges $69.99 for an alignment on unmodified cars. It's $120 if modified in any way, shape, or form. I'm getting the $69.99 price.

Majofo

Why not 34.50? You guys don't have legit tire shops up there that do 1/3 yr deals?

TacoBello

I actually have no idea what that is, lol, so I'm guessing no.

Honestly, you 'muricans have it damn good down south of the border. Don't take it for granted!!

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

NO Maj that's 34.50 for us... sixty nine nindy nine fo them...

thoiboi

Some shops down here have 1 year unlimited alignments or 3 years or even lifetime alignment packages.

I feel you doe, I would hate to do an alignment and realize my shit was broken and it would need another one. One thing to note if you're afraid it's tie rods or other component is ideally the competent tech doing the alignment would see something wrong and say "HMMM this tie rod looks bad, I won't be able to do an alignment " and you can go from there..

But then again this is canada, I question everything out there..


Except poutine

TacoBello

Update!! Update!!!

Well, I finally put my summer tires on yesterday evening. Gave the wheels a firm shake at 12:00, no movement. Gave the wheels a firm shake at 6:00, no movement. Gave the wheels a shake at 3:00 and 9:00, no movement.

After reassembling everything, I took the car for a drive... it drives straight again, lol. Yay! No need for an alignment. I'm sure errrthang is jus' fine

TacoBello

Kidding. Took the car in for alignment this morning. Should have it back in a couple hours (didn't want to sit around waiting). Will update if my toe was just out of whack.

Majofo

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

You got spanked anyway....

Should have just posted in 3G ramblings

Majofo

Spanked for bullshitting say there's no problem, when obviously problem.. This one's for you ->

TacoBello

Hahaha, this really is the undercover 3G ramblings...

Car is waiting to be picked up. I won't be able to grab it for another 90 minutes though... Tied up on AZ

I'm hoping the alignment I've magic cure. Secretly, I'm still thinking the bushings were responsible... The car stopped pulling to the side after replacing them. That, or the other wheel was knocked out of alignment the same amount to cause the car to track straight

nfnsquared

I seriously doubt the bushings were responsible for the pull.

But since the struts are not stock, it's possible whoever installed them did not follow proper procedures when bolting everything back after the install (e.g. put weight on each side before torqueing everything down).

It's possible that just a simple, correct re-torqueing after changing out the bushings is all it took to fix the pulling issue.

Or maybe not, we'll have to see what the alignment shop says to get a complete picture...

TacoBello

Struts are stock. Well, A-Spec stock. Springs aren't. Either way, they've been on the car for at least 6 years. Bolts seemed properly torqued when I was pulling them off. Plus, I drove the car for a good 15,000km without issue.

For all I know, wifey may have taken the TL and hit a pothole and wouldn't admit to it, lol. Leaving soon to pick the car up. Yay!

TacoBello

I got the car back... and it works! Alignment solved the problem... looks like I'll be having a chat with Wifey regarding how the alignment was "mysteriously" out... *stink eye*

TacoBello

Majofo

dat camel toe! I wonder if the rears were purposely out-of-spec..

TacoBello

Not that far out of spec! I actually haven't noticed any uneven tire wear with that camber. Yay for me. Gotta be able to hit them corners at light speed

polobunny

Ok alignment shop. I'm surprised you noticed pulling to the right though.

Majofo

:pb: It doesn't seem like much but even a little will be polarizing. There's a lot of force involved and it magnifies the faster the wheels are spinning + add in the additional traction from the inner wear.

TacoBello

I could be wrong, but I think :pb: meant that he would have expected the car to pull to the left with the left toe being out. I'm just pulling straws here though.

Majofo

Left toe was toe-in.. looking from above, your front wheels were like this:

/ |

Hence the pulling to the right.

polobunny

Ah yes, checked quickly when about to leave work. Toe in on left and small toe out on right could def exacerbate the feeling.

So maybe pressure the wifey about the left wheel. WHAT DID SHE DO??

thoiboi

conundrum solved! let the salad tossing continue!!

or did it ever end...



The wife probably hit a curb or something

Majofo

It's not unusual for the toe to go out-of-spec. Surprisingly, Justn's toe was fine when he hopped the curb. I mean his wheel came off but it stayed straight.

TacoBello

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.... This just made my morning