Re: Swaying

[tobyp@xxxx]

Rich - Assuming that your steering rack is in serviceable condition 
(lots of messages recently on that subject), there are a number of 
areas in both the front and rear suspensions that could, if worn or 
otherwise damaged, give a swaying sensation. In the rear, in 
addition to the trailing arm bolts themselves (which must be straight 
and tight), there are the rubber bushings themselves, the attachment 
of the bushings to the frame (two small bolts on each side), bushings 
common to the upper and lower lateral links, and the attachment of 
the body to the frame. As you mentioned, alignment of the rear 
wheels can also be a factor. A good alignment shop should be able to 
do a good job of setting the toe-in, assuming all parts mentioned 
have been inspected and are found in good condition. In the front, 
there are the bushings between the lower control arms and the frame, 
lower control arms and the front sway bar, upper control arm 
bushings, sway bar bushings common to the forward frame section, tie 
rod ends, and the rack itself. A very thorough inspection of all of 
these components should give some clues as to what is allowing the 
movement that you have been experiencing. What was done with the 
forward frame section (crumple tube assembly)? The attachment of the 
sway bar to that section can affect the caster of the front wheels. 
If you have a caster difference of more than 1/2 degree from one side 
to the other, the steering will be very touchy and squirrely. Don't 
forget that tires can have a profound effect on the directional 
stability and handling of a car. If you have mismatched tires, 
underinflated tires, or tires that are breaking down internally, that 
would be bad. Cheap tires with strange tread patterns can also 
affect the stability. Lots to look at and think about.

Toby Peterson VIN 2248 (Winged1)
DeLorean Parts Northwest, LLC
www.delorean-parts.com 

--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "cruznmd" <racuti1@xxxx> wrote:
> Up until recently, my DeLorean had really bad steering due to front-
> end corrosion and half-hearted amatuer repairs. In accordance with 
my 
> budget, I've had metal replaced by an experienced metal 
> fabricator/welder. The last thing I had done was to have the 
steering 
> rack anchored to keep it from sliding in the bushings. It ain't 
> stock, and it ain't pretty but it's correct, safe and solid.
> 
> When I drove at speed, certain bumps in the road would make it feel 
> as though the car was trying to climb out of the lane. I attributed 
> this to the steering rack sliding in the bushings.
> 
> Now that everything is firmly set in the front-end, the sway is 
very 
> slight, but still there. The steering does not pull to either side. 
> The column bushing is in good shape. The sway almost, (but not 
> absolutely) feels like the rear-end is trying to sashay out of the 
> lane.
> 
> Is this a trailing arm issue? My bolts were pulled and checked. 
They 
> were not bent but they had obviously been worked on in the past as 
> one of them was non-standard hardware (replaced it). Could the 
shims 
> being improperly installed cause this sway? If the shims were 
> improperly installed, would an alignment shop be able to tell where 
> and how many to install?
> 
> Am I on the wrong track entirely? I want to install new tie-rod 
ends 
> but like I said, my steering isn't pulling to either side, and it's 
> reasonably tight, very little slop. I've yanked on my front wheels 
> and they have no rattle or slop (up/down/side-to-side).
> 
> I hope I'm making sense.
> 
> Rich A.
> #5335