Suspension & Brakes Theory, alignment, spring rates....

help. my car sways side to side

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Old Jul 12, 2005 | 08:55 AM
  #1  
boostinh22
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Default help. my car sways side to side

i've already searched for this quite a bit. nobody else seems to have the exact same problem as i do.
the back end feels like its swaying back and forth. if i turn the steering wheel side to side it feels like the back end almost comes loose. it's worse the faster i go. i was thinking wheel bearings, but there's no play in them and they don't make any noise. anyone got any suggestions?

oh yea, car is a 2000 prelude base.
suspension is as follows:

H&R race springs
Koni Sport Struts
Spoon rear strut bar
spc ball joint camber kit (front only)
yokohama avs es100 front/ falken gr b fk451 rear (plenty of tread both)

i just had an alignment done a few weeks ago.


Modified by waterboy683 at 12:03 PM 7/13/2005
Old Jul 13, 2005 | 03:35 AM
  #2  
boostinh22
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Default Re: help. my car sways side to side (waterboy683)

anyone?
Old Jul 13, 2005 | 04:13 AM
  #3  
00R101's Avatar
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Default Re: help. my car sways side to side (waterboy683)

Even though your description is lacking, I will try to answer. What could cause this?
Tire pressure - too low in the rear?
Alignment - especailly rear toe out
Blown rear shock(s)
Loose sway bar mounts
Old Jul 13, 2005 | 08:39 AM
  #4  
boostinh22
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Default Re: help. my car sways side to side (00R101)

tire pressure is good.
the alignment is only a month old
shocks are fine
haven't checked sway bars. will do.

anyone else?
Old Jul 13, 2005 | 10:55 AM
  #5  
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what kind of tires are you running?
Old Jul 13, 2005 | 11:02 AM
  #6  
boostinh22
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Default Re: (EGPrelude)

yokohama avs es100 front, falken gr b fk451 rear

both tires i've used in the past and had no problems with.

this swaying is much worse than what could be caused by soft sided tires.
the car almost drives itself down the highway sometimes
Old Jul 13, 2005 | 03:10 PM
  #7  
boostinh22
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Default Re: help. my car sways side to side (waterboy683)

bump
Old Jul 14, 2005 | 08:35 AM
  #8  
boostinh22
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Default Re: help. my car sways side to side (waterboy683)

anyone else?
Old Jul 14, 2005 | 01:45 PM
  #9  
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Default Re: help. my car sways side to side (waterboy683)

bushings alright? are all of the bolts tight? i know that sounds stupid, but when things like that happen it is usually something simple.
Old Jul 15, 2005 | 05:00 AM
  #10  
boostinh22
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Default Re: help. my car sways side to side (98_4drCivic)

a visual inspection of all the bushings and nuts/bolts shows me everything is normal, but obviously i need to physically check everything. anyone else have an idea?
Old Jul 15, 2005 | 05:27 AM
  #11  
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get your alignment checked again at the chop u went to. if everything else is good (bolts,bushings,tires,shocks not leaking) there really not much left.
sounds like a alignment prob
Old Jul 15, 2005 | 03:59 PM
  #12  
boostinh22
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Default Re: (slowandfurious)

anyone else?
Old Jul 15, 2005 | 08:48 PM
  #13  
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Default Re: (waterboy683)

well, i would check your aligment specs, maybe there out of wack... and then just to be safe do a tear down... weaving side to side is dangerous, not only for yourself, but others.. take everything apart, and inspect the bushings, bolts/nuts/shocks/ball joints/etc and see what your aligemnt specs are, most places can print them out.. hope this helps
Old Jul 16, 2005 | 01:59 AM
  #14  
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Default Re: (slowandfurious)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slowandfurious &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">get your alignment checked again at the chop u went to. if everything else is good (bolts,bushings,tires,shocks not leaking) there really not much left.
sounds like a alignment prob</TD></TR></TABLE>

agreed

even though the shocks arent old, maybe they are defective.
Old Jul 16, 2005 | 08:43 AM
  #15  
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Default Re: (D-CeReaL#4)

Check your rear upper control arm bushings. A bad upper arm will cause this. It's a scary feeling where the back end feels like it is geettin loose even around slow corners or while changing lanes.
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 03:33 AM
  #16  
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Default Re: (89civicdx)

My old da6 did this BADLY

and my EJ with TEIN FLEX also does this

im plauged with it

iv never heard of upper rear arm bushes doing this so ill change those
P.S Iv already changed rear trailing arm bushes
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 09:37 AM
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Default Re: (Coupe-R)

Have you looked at the specs of the alignment? Get your hands on the number too. Toe, Camber, Caster. Out of spec values will indicate any suspension arm damage.

Try using a different set of tires from another car, or even rotate the tires. See if the problem improves.

Try to find a relatively flat and smooth road and drive. See if the problem persist. My opinion is your spring is way too stiff for the shock. The shock could be out. Even if it is still working, it is unable to control the spring, and your tire bounces all over the place. This is more apparent at the lighter-weight back end.
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 03:17 PM
  #18  
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Default Re: (gogogomoveit)

What you mention will cause a boucy ride

NOT the rear end swaying around like the back end comes loose

I know exactly the feeling! Both my honda's do this and no one can fix em, tried EVERYTHING mentiond except replacing upper arm and toe adjustment bushes

thats next
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 03:30 PM
  #19  
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Default Re: (Coupe-R)

Do these cars have a sway bar in the back?
Old Sep 14, 2006 | 02:49 AM
  #20  
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Default Re: (fast95eg8)

Yes factory sway bars, and I have driven other hondas that also Sway like the back end is not attached to the front of the car.

Im going to replace Upper control arm with an adjustable type, and maybe front control arm and lower control arm bushes
Old Jan 29, 2013 | 01:48 PM
  #21  
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Default Re: help. my car sways side to side

Originally Posted by boostinh22
i've already searched for this quite a bit. nobody else seems to have the exact same problem as i do.
the back end feels like its swaying back and forth. if i turn the steering wheel side to side it feels like the back end almost comes loose. it's worse the faster i go. i was thinking wheel bearings, but there's no play in them and they don't make any noise. anyone got any suggestions?

oh yea, car is a 2000 prelude base.
suspension is as follows:

H&R race springs
Koni Sport Struts
Spoon rear strut bar
spc ball joint camber kit (front only)
yokohama avs es100 front/ falken gr b fk451 rear (plenty of tread both)

i just had an alignment done a few weeks ago.


Modified by waterboy683 at 12:03 PM 7/13/2005
Old Jan 29, 2013 | 01:50 PM
  #22  
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Default Re: help. my car sways side to side

Hi, did you ever find out what was wrong w/your car , swaying from side to side, feels like the rear ,while driving???my car is doing the same thing....feels like disconnected sway bar, i just put new pins in the front last summer.....i have to crawl under the rear and check it out....
Old Jan 29, 2013 | 06:00 PM
  #23  
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Default Re: help. my car sways side to side

Thread. Is 8 years old. I hope he figured it out by now.
Old Feb 11, 2013 | 05:12 PM
  #24  
Kohen's Avatar
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Default Re: help. my car sways side to side

Originally Posted by grumblemarc
Thread. Is 8 years old. I hope he figured it out by now.
Hahahaha. Oh how I've missed your comments.

erinsue007, create your own thread or research instead of commenting on an 8 year old thread. If you create your own thread be specific and tell us what you've checked.
Old Feb 12, 2013 | 06:45 AM
  #25  
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Default Re: help. my car sways side to side

almost positive its your rear trailing arm bushings.

if even just one is bad your cars *** will look like a dolphin going down the road



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