my girlfreind just bought a mazda 6 and it looks to be sitten on teins...but theirs a problem it shakes real bad at higher speeds and at lower speeds the right rear tire feels like its rollen over bumps...the dealer said the alignment was off...could it be the springs also?...im new to suspension so i wouldnt know where to start...

 

First thing I would do is remount the wheels. Just jack it up and loosen all the lugs on the wheel then use a criss-cross pattern to tighten them. Hand tight each one, then go back with a torque wrench and tighten them (in same criss-cross pattern) to the recommended torque.

Have you tried high-speed balancing the wheels/tires?

Find a local shop that has the Hunter GSP9700 wheel balancer.

http://www.gsp9700.com/pub/search/findgsp9700.cfm

 

^ Not much I can add to what NSXNEXT wrote. If it's not the torque on the lugs it's likely an alignment or balancing issue...

 

Also, have her drive the car around while you watch the wheel in question. Does it look like it's wobbling?

Does it look like a wheel weight fell off it (look for the mark on the rim where it would have been)?

Typically the symptoms you describe are not suspension issues.

 

Sounds like a wobbly wheel as was mentioned before.

 

Is it a steel or aluminum wheel? Do what has already been recommended, but also inspect the wheel. The symptoms you describe can also be associated with a rim that is bent or damaged.



Terry

 

Also while its jacked up check the ball joints for play and when on the ground push up and down on the back corner of the car, does it compress and rebound faster or slower than the other side?

 

thanks everyone for their advice...i took it to th shop and the first two minutes it was their the tire blew...their was a peice of glass in the tire and the reason for it wobbling was the tire pressure was too low...
thanks for your help

 

really?

 

And the dealer didnt catch the low PSI????

 

Any time there is a ride/steering issue, it's easiest to make sure the tire pressure is correct and inspect the tires to make sure there are no visible problems like bubbles, cracked sidewalls, etc. that can cause the issue.

First things I do with a new car or rental car are: 1) check fuel and 2) check the tire air pressure-- I have yet to have a car from the dealer have the correct tire pressure in all 4 tires.

The TL tires were pretty close to recommended, IIRC, but I think the Camry I got off the lot for my dad had a 10 psi range of error, with every tire being a different pressure.

 

Excellent, glad it got resolved.

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