Car High Speed Turn Feel Funny in on Side

• #1

In a 99 Jetta, at low speeds everything feels fine but once I get on the interstate the car feels like it's periodically floating. When holding the steering wheel in position it feels like car just takes off on it's own to the left or right and doesn't seem to correspond to the steering wheel moving. It's significantly worse on a rougher road.

I've looked around these forums and don't see much but I feel like it can't be too many things. I wanted to run this by a few people to be sure in I'm thinking correctly and logically here. I need new tires on the front. I feel this could possibly contribute to the problem but not be a big factor. Alignment seems like it could also be a contributing contributing factor but not the sole problem worker. Would shocks and struts possibly cause this? Bad ball joints? I guess what I'm thinking is that I don't want to just start replacing things and never resolve the issue. I will get new shocks struts soon and replace the tires and get an alignment at the same time. I don't want to have to take things apart beyond that point so if there is something else I should look at prior to that, what is it?

Thanks.

• #2

First thing to check is tire pressure. Front and rear. You'd be amazed at the havoc low or uneven (side-to-side) tire pressure has on a car. After that, I'd inspect the front end (or have it done if you're not experienced). Typically, a wander is caused by camber angles going all katty-whompus. That could be strut mounts, control arm bushing, or ball joints. Worn tie-rod ends will give sloppy steering feel and excess play, but will rarely cause a wander.
There are other possible culprits, not all are in the front of the car. You can get a complete suspension inspection done for about an hours labor. Money well spent.

Oh, if/when you do get tires, have an alignment done at the same time.

Last edited: Feb 13, 2013

• #3

Had actually already checked the tire pressure. They are all at 35. I think I will replace the shocks and struts myself and maybe the ball joints since they don't look too expensive either. Then I'll take it in to get rid of these Pirelli P6 tires and get a full alignment and check out at that time. Thanks.

• #4

If there's one thing I've learned from reading this forums it's to not throw parts at a problem you don't fully understand.

• #5

I agree with that but knowing it needs tires and an alignment it seems like a good time to do the struts shocks, too, and then get a full check when they do the alignment. I will check out the ball joints before I do anything with those but also seems like it couldn't hurt if it's apart. I guess I didn't think it made sense to get tires and alignment and then need one again, soon.

• #6

Had actually already checked the tire pressure. They are all at 35. I think I will replace the shocks and struts myself and maybe the ball joints since they don't look too expensive either. Then I'll take it in to get rid of these Pirelli P6 tires and get a full alignment and check out at that time. Thanks.

I wouldn't replace ball joints unless they need replaced. The originals last and last. If they're not bad and you replace with low quality replacements then they will go bad. I have 270K on my originals!

• #7

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks.

• #8

I think I have sort of gotten away from the point of my post a little. I think I was just starting to think about this issue and wondering if it could be something I haven't considered and if anyone has ever had this problem and it was definitively fixed by doing X?

• #10

I would get it inspected before doing anything, by someone that knows what they are doing. Your issues are what happens when the front end gets sloppy and worn. Find out what needs replacing and go from there.

• #11

Rear control arm bushings (rear of the front control arms) are probably shot and allowing the control arm to move around and the car to subsequently wander. Also, your rear axle bushings may be worn and allowing for some rear wheel steering. Both are easily inspected.

Struts and shocks original? If so they may be due for replacement (most likely are) along with mounts. Front mounts shrink and get hard with age and cause the car not to hold an alignment.

Ball joints and tie rods do wear, but they're pretty robust. Check the rubber parts first.

• #12

Put some new tires on today with a complete alignment. It's a definite improvement but it still feels like it isn't completely fixed. While the wheel is perfectly straight it feels like it starts drifting one way and then sharply corrects the other...while rocking back and forth in the process. They claimed to check everything over but I have a feeling not much was checked too thoroughly.

• #13

Just a thought, but have the wheel bearings ever been replaced?

• #14

Get someone knowledgeable to look at the car. I'm still betting on control arm bushings and rear axle bushings. You're going to kill your new tires in no time if you don't get this fixed.

• #15

Check the rubber bushings that attach the rear axle to the body. Put the back end on jack stands and see if the rear axle wiggles around. Bad rear axle bushing almost always cause that wandering feeling on the highway.

• #16

Jack the front up and grab the tire, and try to move left/right. Look for movement @ the ball joint. I just replaced mine @ 209k mi. Also check the Lower Control Arm Bushings (LCA) They are easy to check. Look rear of front wheel and you can see if they are damaged.

As you can see on mine there is a darker black spot where it is rubbing on its self (torn). Needs replacing and can cause drifting. Unless you have a press, its easier to just replace the whole LCA. Everything bolts on and only takes about 45min - 1hr.

also check the rear axle bushings. Since you have a 99, all your bushings front and rear are getting of age and needing to be replaced. Best of Luck.

Last edited: Feb 15, 2013

jasonTDI

TDI GURU Vendor , w/Business number

• #17

Get someone knowledgeable to look at the car. I'm still betting on control arm bushings and rear axle bushings. You're going to kill your new tires in no time if you don't get this fixed.

^^THIS^^ It's the rear beam bushings. You need to see what size they are as some of the early cars had smaller units that are NLA.

The rear will get worse. Dose it knock over sharp bumps yet?

Front rear lower control arm bushings will cause some wander as well.

• #18

Thanks guys. I am going to take it Monday as I don't have a good place to look at it where I'm currently at.

• #19

Its the rear beam bushings. The car "rocking" is a giveaway. My 99.5 has the same issue and a new set of bushings fixed it.

jasonTDI

TDI GURU Vendor , w/Business number

• #20

Scary handling in a high cross wind at highway speed.

• #21

I took it in and specifically said to check the rear axle bushings....twice. They called today and said the front left wheel bearing is out if it. Hmmm. Hypothetically speaking, should I get it back and this doesn't fix it, then what? I guess I'll get it home and do the rear bushings myself.

• #22

^^THIS^^ It's the rear beam bushings. You need to see what size they are as some of the early cars had smaller units that are NLA.

The rear will get worse. Dose it knock over sharp bumps yet?

Front rear lower control arm bushings will cause some wander as well.

It didn't knock or make any noises at all...in any way. Simply just wandered and then corrected itself...and then did feel like it was rocking.

I did jack up the rear and there was absolutely no wiggle or looseness when grabbing the wheels.

• #24

It's funny you say that because the road is a huge factor. I don't notice it all the time but it's definitely most noticable on the grooved concrete. It just feels like it starts to wander, and usally to the right (even though the steering wheel stays straight) and then quickly corrects the other way....and also does a rocking left and right motion as it is correcting itself the other way.

I'm real interested to see if a ball joint fixes this.

• #25

I've felt the same thing with my 04' especially when I drive a patch of the 405 South freeway in Los Angeles. The car feels as if the rear end is "wagging it's tail/fish tailing" from side to side. I think the patch where it happens is also grooved concrete. I have a pretty new set of Michelin Primacy tires on the car and think they may be more prone to tramlining.

I didn't feel this with my old BF Goodrich tires on the same stretch. Had to replace those tires due to old age and harsh ride....they got really hard.

• #27

Got the car back - $250 total cost to replace a ball joint and get realigned. @!#^%!@$#%^!

I take it out for a test drive and all feels great. I'm 200 miles from home and head that way. I make it almost 200 miles and no issue at all on blacktop highway - good highway. I turn on to the interstate - the grooved concrete....and there is the same feeling. This seems really road specific The ball joint? I don't know. Seems weird.

• #29

It sounds like its the road to me....

Seems very possible now. It also seems like the rocking feeling has lessened a little bit, too.

lechugabrail1985.blogspot.com

Source: https://forums.tdiclub.com/index.php?threads/wandering-floating-around-feeling-at-interstate-speeds-what-to-check.377127/

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