Ark Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Chaps, got a bit of a problem we're trying to diagnose on a Supra that just handles like jelly - at about 50 mph it just wobbles and feels like it's going to break away. The wheels and tyres have been swapped over as a test. The shocks have been replaced (OEM replacements, one day old). There's no play in the the wheels, bearings or suspension arm bushes. No obvious geometry problems. The subframes are tight enough that we can't replicate any play in them on a ramp... Please, anyone with any thoughts or suggestions of what to look at next, I'd love to hear about it. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supspower Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 First thoughts would be wheel balancing but seeing as they've been checked, only thing that hasnt been mentioned that i can think of is if it could be anything to do with Power steering, prop shaft? Sure someone will come along and give some proper advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon F Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I'd have a serious look round for any accident damage or replaced parts. Also, even if the geometry looks ok, I would give it a proper 4 wheel alignment. Although you have swapped the wheels, have a close check of the tyre pressures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 All that comes to mind is if the wheels fit the hubs properly or use those spacer things (or don't have them!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanM Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Ian W had this problem for ages, I don't know if he ever got to the bottom of it but it might be worth a PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Branners Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 You say the wheels and tyres have been swapped over? You mean completely different wheels and tyres were put on and it still did it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wile e coyote Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Recheck alinment and tyre preasures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 How did you check suspension bushing play? Mine seemed fine to me but the guys at SCA used a breaker bar to level them around and that showed up how bad they were. Imbalanced shocks can cause this but if you had them all replaced... The thing about spacers/hub centric rings is plausible, although that'd manifest more as a vibration like an imbalanced wheel I'd have thought. Are the springs ok? Did you try different wheels entirely off a known good car, perhaps one tyre is deformed or the compound is too soft for some reasons and swapping the sides they are on wouldn't change the problem. Any play in the steering system? -Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilicos Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 May sound stupid, but a friend of mine had a similar problem with his car a while back. It eventually turned out, that somehow the air hose he had used a while back had a problem, and when filling the tyres, had blown alot of water/moisture into the tyres. This then led to constantly unbalancing the tyres when driving above certain speeds. I am not clear as to what you mean by, "The wheels and tyres have been swapped over as a test", but if you dont mean from another car then it's a suggestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 My money is on worn out suspension bushes and joint, as Ian says you need to get a big breaker bar on them and check for play. If there is play replacing them will make a massive difference. With the age and mileage of most Supras now there must be loads of cars out there with worn out suspension components. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted March 26, 2009 Author Share Posted March 26, 2009 Thanks for the input everyone. The wheels were borrowed off another Supra, known to be sound and stable so that's not the problem. I guess the next thing is to have a go at the bushes with a breaker bar then... Thanks again. Will post up if we get anywhere with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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