Rear handeling issues with 2000 LW1 wagon.

[glannewehr]

I have a 2000 LW1 (wagon) with just a bit over 300,000 miles on it. I have had rear handling problems with it the past year.

Whenever I go over a little bit of ice or snow on the road, my back end is really loose and slides all over the place. Can't really go over 40mph because I'm deathly afraid of putting this car into a spin. It likes to push the car to the right mostly when sliding.

I just replaced the rear struts on it yesterday, simply because they needed it and were cupping my tires pretty bad and thought it would take care of the handling problems. Well, it did not. I did put new tires on it this past summer and probably will do the same this week. I have good tread on them still but maybe the bad struts did a number on them. Plan on putting new tires on the rear again this week.

In a somewhat related issue, every time I go over a bump and/or turn a corner to the right or left I get this loud clunking noise at the same time coming from that same right side in the rear.. Sounds like something is broken or loose back there but can't see or feel anything when I look up under the care. Also when going over railroad tracks the car seems to dog track a bit, not coming down straight but to one side a bit.

I'm wondering if this could be bad bushings in the rear control arm?? Would this affect my handling like I described?

[pierrot]

It's certainly possible that there could be bad rear knuckle and rear control arm bushings (inner, at center of vehicle) with this age and mileage. I wouldn't be surprised if the sway bar bushings were in need as well - perhaps even a broken sway bar (who knows?). The condition of the bushings at the front of the trailing arm (forward of the rear tires) are more difficult to determine. Put simply, get underneath the car and give it a really close inspection.

I would not expect that tires are the source of your problem. Of course, tires can be responsible for poor control and handling issues. However, what you've described suggests to me that you're looking at something more substantial than mere tire replacement. I've replaced the rear knuckle bushings on my car at about 160K miles in 2011, but they'd been in need of replacement years before that. I've been fortunate that no other rear suspension bushings have needed attention.

P.S. The rear knuckle bushings (directly behind the rear wheel and brakes) may also be referred to as control arm bushings, or trailing arm bushings. There are four of these, one upper and lower on each side.

[TurboZutek]

Grab the rear wheel with the car on the ground. Can you shake it back and forth? If so, those rose bushes are humped.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-LF-qQY-Lc

If it sort of moves side to side, look at the inners and the front bushes on the trailing arm. A pry bar will help you identify any play in those.

Chris...

[Frostman]

Sounds like you have outter control arm bushing issues and very possibly an rear alingment issue. Tire cupping may be caused from bad bushings, but if once replaced you are still having the rear end get all wild on you, you probably need to have the alinement done. Mine felt the same way until it was corrected.

[glannewehr]

I put the car up on jack stands and gave the tires a good wiggle. Yup, those bushings by the knuckle are indeed loose. Sway bar seems fine and not broken.

Basically explains why my car pushes to the left and right when driving on slightly slippery pavement. After I get those replaced, I'll get it aligned.

Thanks for all of your input!!!!

[TurboZutek]

I wrote a procedure a wee while ago on how to do it. Search for 'rose bushes' on here and you'll find it.