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sway be gone? how too...
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:19 pm
by remusrm
i notice my vibe starts to sway side to side while on the fway and turns. rather too much lean too... i want that to be gone... what should do?lower? sway bar? new rims/tires?
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:34 pm
by Jaycie685
I too seem to have that problem.I noticed recently that when I'm on the freeway, my car will go straight, but it will sway side to side in which I have to keep my hands on the wheel and redirect my car if it sways too much.It's even worse when I'm going over 80mph.I don't know what's causing it or how to correct it.At first I thought it was my tires, so I inflated them to the correct PSI, and the problem is still there.I don't think it's an alignment problem because my car goes straight.Anyone know what might be causing this?
Re: sway be gone? how too... (remusrm)
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 7:20 pm
by scherry2
Quote, originally posted by remusrm » rather too much lean too... i want that to be gone... what should do?lower? sway bar? yes and yes
Re: sway be gone? how too... (remusrm)
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 1:37 am
by Flip-Side
The common cure for these annoyances are a rear sway bar, and lower springs. Hotchkis has a front and back set, and progress has only a rear bar. Hotchkis, tien, eibach, progress, and a bunch of others have springs for the vibe/matrix.And if you somehow have the stock contis...those can't be helping.
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 3:08 am
by Atomb
cross wind....i've discussed this with a couple of vibe owners and we all agree the vibe catches cross winds like the sail on an america's cup vessel!
Re: (Atomb)
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 5:34 am
by Flip-Side
Cross-wind is definately a factor. Although I have had wandering on the freeway on perfectly calm days, and I think the sway bars are to blame with what I've seen here on genvibe.
Re: (Flip-Side)
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 9:17 am
by cohocarl
Quote, originally posted by Flip-Side »I have had wandering on the freeway on perfectly calm daysThat was the main beef I had with my Vibe. No straight line stability.I put on a rear progress bar. I then put on front and rear Hotchkis bars. I then put on Hotchkis springs. Then I put on new tires. Aligned, everything, and it still wandered. Returned it back to stock with the new tires and it still wandered. I'm guessing the struts are wimpy which don't help. (Long drives on the x-way was a P.I.A. where I do 95% of my driving), so I sold it.
Re:
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 10:31 am
by DavidPIL
Hi all...I really don't notice this wandering you're speaking of and really have little problems with driving on the highway for extended periods. I do notice crosswind turbulance and some turbulance when a Semi-truck is near but nothing that doesn't seem directly relatated to wind.I'm still getting the Progress Rear Sway Bars but only because I want to see what improvements it might make in stability on turns. Will get the Strut Bar soon as well though I'm guessing it won't make much difference.My suspension seems to be getting a bit softer but that's probably because I have 56,000 miles and have hauled some rather heavy loads (for short periods). I do though have wider tires. Have 235/45's now and will be changing to 245/45's next. Maybe that has helped the stability issue so I don't really notice anything major. I did have some wandering issues when I had the 235's on the OEM wheels (7" width) but when I upgraded to 8" wide rims (which are suggested for 235's) it went away. THis might be something to consider?Dave