Problem, or, 'Don't do that'?

Radio Flyer · 12-21-2001, 09:56 AM

I've noticed a couple times, no, I don't do it or feel it often, that when turning with the wheel at full-lock (left -- haven't tried right), that the car bobs and lurches as though the front right tire is flat and buckling. This occurred in the parking lot at my grocery store.

First time I felt it, I actually jumped out of the car to check the tire - which, of course, was fine.

I figure that what is happening is that the u-joint/CV-joint is being forced to move at it's maximum angle, pushing the suspension up and down.

My question: Is it likely that something is broken/breaking, or should I just not do that (turn at full lock)?

TIA,

  - Eric
    '98 2.5 GT Wagon - Pics - Page -
    ICQ #: 9292601

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francophile · 12-21-2001, 11:19 AM

It almost sounds as though you have a LSD in the front, or a locker diff, but I doubt you have either of those; you would have had to add them yourself. Barring that, something in the suspension is binding. Perhaps a strut, maybe CV joint. I'd definitely have it looked into the next time the car is in for service. In the meantime, 'don't do that'

Cheers,
-wdb

subyspeed2 · 12-21-2001, 02:45 PM

i've noticed the exact same thing a few times. really worried me(feels kinda like you're about to run the wheel right over) and i quit 'doing that' as much as possible. if you find out why yours does it please let me know.

nuburu2 · 12-21-2001, 02:56 PM

Sounds like the viscuous coupling is allowing the rear wheels to "over-ride" the front ones just a tad. If you've ever driven a 4WD vehicle on dry roads this would be most familiar to you, as the rear diff, with no slippage, runs forward, pushing through the front tire/wheel which is at an angle, and moving forward at lower relative speed. This is never noticed in mud and snow with the road surface allowing things(tire contact) to slip 'n slide. The viscuous coupling(on MT cars) and the 4EAT (on autos) allows some loss of forward momentum at the rear(effectively lowering the gear ratio) when this occurs in our AWD cars, thus allowing efficient use of AWD on dry roads. Hope that makes some sense.

Something you may wish to discuss with a Subie tech to determine the degree of severity and whether or not it's really a problem.

Glenn O

JoeT · 12-21-2001, 10:24 PM

Hi Radio Flyer,

If your car is automatic, the center clutch pack may be siezed. This happened once on my friends 97 Outback LTD and Subaru replaced it under warranty.

One of the causes for failure is too much difference in tire diameters between the front and the rear tires. I warned him, cheap b-terd, used a mix of tires same size, but not the same brand.

Hope this helps.

12-21-2001, 09:56 AM	#1
Radio Flyer Scooby Specialist Member#: 374 Join Date: Oct 1999 Chapter/Region: SWIC Location: Albuquerque, NM Vehicle: '98 2.5 GT Wagon Rio Red	Problem, or, 'Don't do that'? I've noticed a couple times, no, I don't do it or feel it often, that when turning with the wheel at full-lock (left -- haven't tried right), that the car bobs and lurches as though the front right tire is flat and buckling. This occurred in the parking lot at my grocery store. First time I felt it, I actually jumped out of the car to check the tire - which, of course, was fine. I figure that what is happening is that the u-joint/CV-joint is being forced to move at it's maximum angle, pushing the suspension up and down. My question: Is it likely that something is broken/breaking, or should I just not do that (turn at full lock)? TIA,   - Eric     '98 2.5 GT Wagon - Pics - Page -     ICQ #: 9292601 * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

12-21-2001, 11:19 AM	#2
francophile Scooby Newbie Member#: 8666 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Pennsylvania Vehicle: 2005 STi Crystal Gray	'Problem' It almost sounds as though you have a LSD in the front, or a locker diff, but I doubt you have either of those; you would have had to add them yourself. Barring that, something in the suspension is binding. Perhaps a strut, maybe CV joint. I'd definitely have it looked into the next time the car is in for service. In the meantime, 'don't do that' Cheers, -wdb

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12-21-2001, 02:45 PM	#3
subyspeed2 Scooby Newbie Member#: 10914 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Altoona, PA Vehicle: 1992 legacy turbo black	i've noticed the exact same thing a few times. really worried me(feels kinda like you're about to run the wheel right over) and i quit 'doing that' as much as possible. if you find out why yours does it please let me know.

12-21-2001, 02:56 PM	#4
nuburu2 Scooby Specialist Member#: 2609 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Roseville, Ca, USA Vehicle: 98 BK-GT White '97 SVX Ebony Pearl	Sounds like the viscuous coupling is allowing the rear wheels to "over-ride" the front ones just a tad. If you've ever driven a 4WD vehicle on dry roads this would be most familiar to you, as the rear diff, with no slippage, runs forward, pushing through the front tire/wheel which is at an angle, and moving forward at lower relative speed. This is never noticed in mud and snow with the road surface allowing things(tire contact) to slip 'n slide. The viscuous coupling(on MT cars) and the 4EAT (on autos) allows some loss of forward momentum at the rear(effectively lowering the gear ratio) when this occurs in our AWD cars, thus allowing efficient use of AWD on dry roads. Hope that makes some sense. Something you may wish to discuss with a Subie tech to determine the degree of severity and whether or not it's really a problem. Glenn O

12-21-2001, 10:24 PM	#5
JoeT Scooby Specialist Member#: 3956 Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Vehicle: 2000 Turbo Legacy GT Titanium	Hi Radio Flyer, If your car is automatic, the center clutch pack may be siezed. This happened once on my friends 97 Outback LTD and Subaru replaced it under warranty. One of the causes for failure is too much difference in tire diameters between the front and the rear tires. I warned him, cheap b-terd, used a mix of tires same size, but not the same brand. Hope this helps.