Back-end wave

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Aug 13, 2003 | 01:44 AM

JTHill24

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From: Orland USA

Back-end wave

My wife's 89 3.0 2wd Aerostar has what feels like a wag.
Like if you was sitting on a dog as he was wagging. You feel it more at highway speeds. I just thought it was ruts in the road it was following but it does it on rutless roads too. Have had it checked 3 differant times at 3 differant shops. They said everything was good and tight.

I still think there is a bad bushing or something.

Thanks:

Aug 13, 2003 | 04:52 AM

Torque1st

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Back-end wave

Belts slipping in tires or bent wheels perhaps...

Aug 13, 2003 | 02:07 PM

JTHill24

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From: Orland USA

Back-end wave

Nope, tires and rims have been checked more than once. In fact this is the 2nd new set on it since we've owned it.

Aug 13, 2003 | 02:39 PM

aerocolorado

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Back-end wave

Does a full 4 wheel alignment show everything to be in order? There is about an inch of offset between the front and rear centerlines. From your description, it appears the two ends are trying to steer in opposite directions - the 'wag' being the compensation. Alignment issues are generally the root cause.

Is this odd 'wag' something that just started happening?

Aug 14, 2003 | 02:01 AM

JTHill24

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From: Orland USA

Back-end wave

Just had it in last week to do a double check on the alignment.
They said everything was right. It's been doing this for quite awhile. Just bugs me when I have to ride in it.

Aug 14, 2003 | 10:15 AM

aerocolorado

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Back-end wave

You have a stumper here. To my knowledge, this is the first report of such odd behaviour. From personal experience, I know our van gets 'jiggy' if we are following behind a semi in the vortexes being thrown off.

I would not discount Torque1st's suggestion of tires. We put a cheap set on some years ago, anticipating selling the van and they were the source of all kinds of front end problems - the steering wheel would be cocked 5 degrees off center to left one day and to the right the next. There were vibrations and pulling issues, but alignment and tire checks both came back negative. Only when we bought a new set did the problems resolve.

Aug 14, 2003 | 12:08 PM

Timothyap5vm

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From: New Brunswick

Back-end wave

A wheel bearing may be bad. (or both) It has been known to do that. If that's not the problem then try checking the brakes.

Just my 2 cents.

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Aug 15, 2003 | 12:46 AM

JTHill24

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From: Orland USA

Back-end wave

I guess I should say you can feel the wag more when your sitting in the back than sitting in the front. I have had new brakes and drums put on in the back also rear shocks. New front rotors, brakes, calipers, lines, shocks, tie-rods and ball-joints. New bearings was put in at the time. New tires. All this was done in the last 3 years. Two weeks ago I had the rotors turned again & the front-end realigened. This wag has been there as long as I can remember.

I told the guy to check it from one end to the other under the van for anything that is loose. I think there is something loose or wore that is not making it stable. He said everything is nice and tight.
**(sigh)**