loose steering

[AJules]

To keep this simple, when I'm on the highway, my car doesn't like to stay going straight and it's getting annoying.

I would be holding the steering wheel perfectly straight and it might pull to the left or right. It's not specifically to the left or to the right, but both ways, it's very loose. It might pull to the left, then to the right or the opposite.

Anybody know what might be wrong

and something that might be worth mentioning, I have 18" rims.

[nickbain]

check alignment, ball joints, tie rod ends, and such.

[Gr1m]

wheel hubs are possible aswell

[nickbain]

wheel hubs are possible aswell

wouldn't you hear them if they were bad enough to cause the car to wander? But ya possible.

[AJules]

okay, well it's been doing this for a while
and I just got my wheels aligned a few weeks ago
so I guess that narrows it down to ball joints, tie rod ends, and wheel hubs??

[CBLOHM3400]

Surprising They Align It With Out Checking Tierods Balljoints Etc Etc

[Redog]

^^ x2

[AJules]

is there anything else it could be then?

taking it somewhere is now put on hold, I've got a flat tire

[GoldStar611]

Surprising They Align It With Out Checking Tierods Balljoints Etc Etc

You would be surprised, especially even at places like Brake Check and etc that say they specialize in this or that. They just slap the things on the wheels and start aligning. They're all paid by the hour so it's all the same to them, and I wouldn't put any past anyone these days. If you just got it aligned a week or two ago, go back and tell them what's going on now.

[nickbain]

what kind of condition are your highways in? Do they see heavy large truck traffic? The car could just be following contures in the road.

[billytheman1188]

yea.....right now im trying to find a place that i can trust to do an alignment. I brought my car to midas a few months ago, and ever since then when i have my car turned slightly to the left on the highway it vibrates a little. Its weird.....and my front tires on my hankooks (on my 18s) seem to wear faster......

[lonnie]

Did you get your wheels balanced, or have your brakes done? Could be possible with a bad brake job, and wheels unbalanced can cause it a bit as well.

[misslindseysue]

How wide are your tires? When I put fat 17's on my Alero it followed every groove in the road. The skinny 15's just went where I told them to. Same thing with the new car - fatter 17's follow the bumps, skinny 16's don't have to worry about it.
Also could be as simple as tire pressure.

[nickbain]

How wide are your tires? When I put fat 17's on my Alero it followed every groove in the road. The skinny 15's just went where I told them to. Same thing with the new car - fatter 17's follow the bumps, skinny 16's don't have to worry about it.
Also could be as simple as tire pressure.

True, a slow leak would cause it to dart.

[AJules]

yea.....right now im trying to find a place that i can trust to do an alignment. I brought my car to midas a few months ago, and ever since then when i have my car turned slightly to the left on the highway it vibrates a little. Its weird.....and my front tires on my hankooks (on my 18s) seem to wear faster......

about your front tires wearing faster, that would make sense to me.
your front wheels do a lot more than your rears
your car is front wheel drive, you turn with your front wheels, and your front wheels do most of your braking.
maybe it's just ur tires wear pretty quickly
If I was you i'd put my rears on my fronts and my fronts on my rears.

[turtles_ride]

Is your car on lowering springs? If you go any lower then an inch drop your camber may be out causing the inside of your tires to wear faster. Lowering springs also puts more wear on all your front suspension and steering parts, you may have tierod issues, steering assembly rubbers may be worn or cracked, stabalizer arms could be shot, if it was wheel bearings or hub assembly you'd know it by all the extra noise especially if you hear it while you're turning. Also, usually fatter racing tires are made of softer rubber compounds to help them stick to the road better, which may be why they're wearing faster.