I am heading to the dealer tomorrow in the AM to have them look over my suspension.

When I drive over 70, say, 75-80 ish I get a real sense of instability. I have to keep on the steering wheen like a norotic and make lots of tiny corrections to keep me straight) I feel like there is lateral movement that I just can't control (i dunno if its from wind or trammeling or what, but its a bit unerving)

Also on lower speeds, say 15, 20, If i am taking a turn with some speed (nothing crazy) but a bit faster than a sedan would probably take it, I get a bit of "whobble" coming out of the turn for a second or so. Nothing like a fish tail, its coming from the front.

I read there was a ball join recall... I wonder if this could be a cause? or maybe the Tie rods? What else would give this "play" in the steering.

(the car had sat for 6 months before I took it out agian, my dad drove it monthly, i dont THINK it drove like this before I left but maybe I just got use to it and now that I am back after a long break it has jumped out at me)

I have new rims so I know thats not it (thanks to techserv, bought some decent 16 stocks, I had one bent rim and wanted a spare as well)

Cheers

Oh, any tips with working with the dealer? We are going on a drive tomorrow.. I wonder if they will drive or if I will drive..

 

good luck but it sounds like something is probably loose

 

The "master" mazda tech guy could not figure it out. He did an alignment and I still have the issue. He thinks its because I dont have Z rated tires on the back, but I think thats bogus. He says when another 8 comes in with stock rims hell give me a call to try those out.

I am confident its not the tires. But I dont know whats loose. He said everything looked good down below... not a confidence builder at all.

GRRRRRRR

 

You are saying "Shaky Steering" your not refering to a balance issue then, as in vibration? I thought not. I would assume that the "Master Tech" (Keep opinions to himself) would have tried this, but. With the wheels pointing perfectly straight, car on a flat level surface. Grab the front wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock and push in and out. Do you feel any excessive movement, clunking, looseness. Next grab the top of the tire, 12 o'clock and pull and push in and out. Any clunking, or movement?
Also, is the air pressure the same in all 4 tires, and if it is what is it?
A "Z" rated tire in the back is not going to cause any problem. You said they checked the alignment, and they should have looked at all underneath components. Any other dealers in the neighborhood you could go to?
There was a recall on some ball joints and it was a small number of cars. It was related to them breaking and not being any excessive play in them.

 

I seem to have this problem too but was wondering if tire pressure or balding tires or not having a front strut bar will affect it.

 

That is one of the symptoms of a failing power steering intermediate harness.

 

Is the harness part of the steering rack or is it a seperate item?

Trying to figure it out cause I just changed my rack.

 

It is separate. Search is your friend.

The rack replacement was not needed and was the incorrect diagnosis. The racks don't fail.

 

I have changed the harness before changing the rack and it didnt seem to solve the problem at all.

I think you should have seen the video that i posted.

 

is it happening only when u brake? if so, it could be that your rotors need re-surfacing...