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Topic: Car floats like a yacht...tires? (Read 2275 times) previous topic - next topic

Car floats like a yacht...tires?

Well, I took my '88 T-bird for its first test-run since buying it and I was very dissapointed. I just put in new shocks and struts so it takes bumps really well but the  thing wants to float ALL over the road. It takes constant adjustment of the steering wheel to keep it going in a straight line and it seems worse when cornering and braking...I thought maybe it was the balljoints (I've had plenty of cars with bad balljoints and this felt similar) but my brother and my dad both think it's the tires. They're brand new and were on the car when I bought it but they're VERY wide the rear tires are actually bigger than the front. I don't have the exact sizes becuase the car is at the garage getting a professional opinon but I'm sure they are at least wider, if not bigger, than the usual size. I always used 205/70/15s on my past CougarBirds (or 215s). The previous owner also put wedges in the back springs to lift the rear end...I think it must have been bottoming out on those big rear tires becuase the old shocks were junk. Now that I have new ones I imagine I can remove those. I dunno, anyone know if big, wide tires would make a car really floaty? We had a truck with VERY, big tires and it was a terrible fight to keep that thing from wandering wherever it pleased. Any thoughts? Thanks.

                                                -Bill

Re: Car floats like a yacht...tires?

Reply #1 –
Sounds like balljoints to me,my car wanted to wander all over the place when i bought it,replaced the ball joints and all was good.
What size are the tires?
Very large tires will make the car want to follow all the cracks in the road.

Re: Car floats like a yacht...tires?

Reply #2 –
check your tire pressure
It's Gumby's fault.

Re: Car floats like a yacht...tires?

Reply #3 –
If the front wheels have a bit of toe-out(instead of toe-in), they will wander all over the place.

Re: Car floats like a yacht...tires?

Reply #4 –
here is the way i get the alignment in the ball park. 
jack up both wheels
mark both wheels at the 8 and 4 o'clock where the inner edge of the tread begins
measure from the center of the balljoint out to each point and tweek the tie rod end till the 8 and 4 are equal.

repeat for other side. 
when they are equal distances, adjust your tie rod end inwards 1 full turn. 
mark your tierod end nut to threaded rod to keep track of things
test drive and tweek till it runs perfect.
If your balljoints have that grease fitting in the center , then this is a one man job, if you dont, its hard to keep the tape holding on the far end.

**it would be best to measure from the 3 and 9 o'clock but you cant with a tape measue cause the control arm and other things get in the way.

since your tires are new,, it is gonna be easy to do this now.  IF your tires had wierd wear to them, id suggest you use a rim without the tire.

like tom said,, you need some toe in.

Re: Car floats like a yacht...tires?

Reply #5 –
Changing from stock 14" tires over to the wider 15" aluminm mustang-style wheels made THE biggets handling difference in my car, bar none.

Re: Car floats like a yacht...tires?

Reply #6 –
Thanks for all the advice...from what you all said I'm guessing it's all of the above...The balljoints looked ok visually to me but I don't know for sure. They weren't leaking grease or anything. I'm guessing they're probably the originals and getting ready to celebrate their 18th birthday this August. I'll peek at the alignment too. I never knew you could check the alignment with just a tape measure...that's friggin awsome  :hick:  Thanks j. I think I'm gonna get normal tires just to rule that out and so it'll pass inspection come November.
 

Re: Car floats like a yacht...tires?

Reply #7 –
if u think the ball joints need replaced then do it.

there is a dimple in the center bottom of the balljoint.  If the dimple is flush with the base,, they are bad.  New ones, the dimple pertrudes out but only like 1/16''

i have a topic in the "Greatest hits" section
topic is called Gerneral Car work.
hunt down the balljoint replacement part, that will help you.