Rear end loose, not like your thinking!

1Bdazzstang · May 19, 2005

Alright. Here we go. I have a 89 LX hatch. The rear suspension is doing something really weird. When i accelerate it feels pretty normal, but when i let off the gas, the whole rear of the car moves to back to the left (drivers side) like 6 inches. Its pretty scary. I got under the car and checked the nuts and bolts, they are all tight, and the bushings on the control arms, upper and lower, are fine. Does anyone know what the hell could be causing this?? Its driving me nuts. PLEASE HELLLLLP!!!

Daggar · May 19, 2005

Sounds like a busted torque box.

1988WHTGT · May 19, 2005

I've noticed a similar thing in my car. I have a 5-speed and whenever I accelerate from a light (just normally), as soon as the clutch grabs the back of the car kinda moves to the side....I dunno...

1988WHTGT · May 20, 2005

Found out anything?

Aliate X · May 20, 2005

whats a torque box? Is that only on autos?

ride410 · May 20, 2005

The torque box's is where your upper and lower control arms connect too. It sounds like they may be damaged.

Aliate X · May 20, 2005

someone was asking me about upgrading torque boxes at one time, is there any point to that?

ride410 · May 20, 2005

ya, a lot of the power going to your rearend gets stressed on your torque boxes. If they break or rip off your screwed. Big problems then. I defintley recommend upgrading them.

1Bdazzstang · May 21, 2005

Oh, guess i should've mentioned this. Ive already fixed the torque boxes. That isnt the problem. At one point some of the bolts under the car were loose, they are all tight now. The car is making alot of power now (compared to stock anyways) and I can't run it now cuz of this problem. Im at a loss, i dont know where else to look.

ride410 · May 21, 2005

When you say the rear of the car shifts to the side does it stay like that for a second then correct itself. Or do you have to turn the wheel to help correct it. Try to give a little more detail

1Bdazzstang · May 21, 2005

Well when it moves, it stays there until I give it gas again. When someone rides behind me they can see it move. So in other words, when I give it gas it move to the right, then when i get off the gas it moves back to the left. Its really odd.

Daggar · May 21, 2005

If your axle is moving, it can oly be one of thre things... broken axle housing, bad upper/lower controls, or their mounting points.

Since it's the control arms that locate the axle housing then it doesn't leave too many options.

SmockDoiley · May 21, 2005

Lift the back end up and try to manually push the rearend back and forth. Also, put it in gear and "drive" it with the wheels off the ground. Try grabbing the rims and pulling them to see if its just the axles.

1Bdazzstang · May 24, 2005

Crap, While I had it up in the air I pulled on the wheels and the axles are tight. Im at a loss. Im wondering if it could be something in the front of the car. Nothing that I can find is loose. Maybe the front is shifting and just feels like the rear. Hell, that sounds stupid even to me but Im grasping at the air at this point. Thanks for the suggestions though guys. If you think of anything else lemme know!! thanks

stangbear427 · May 24, 2005

You never did say if it was a stick or auto?

Do you think the rear is located where it belongs while accelerating, or decelerating?

Does it do it under any deceleration at all? Like, is the force of the rear shifting directly proportional to the speed at which you pull off the gas pedal? (i.e. slowly ease off the gas= little shimmy/abruptly disengage throttle=big shift)

Does it sit level?

How is the wear on the tires, any strange patterns?

Have you measured your wheelbase from hub to hub on both sides to see if it's square?

Are you getting any noises? Clunks, grinds, buzzes, etc.

How old is the suspension?

Did this just drop out of the sky, or right after working on it, or was it a long time coming?

What drive line parts have you changed from stock, from the clutch out to the rear tires? (one thing on my mind is adjustable control arms)

Have you checked your shock mounts?

How are your engine/tranny mounts? (doesn't sound like them, but I've heard at least 100 very different symptoms that all turned out to be mounts). Gimme some more!

1Bdazzstang · May 27, 2005

alright, good questions.

first its a five speed.

I think it is in the correct place under acceleration.

If I accel. hard, then let off hard it is a larger movement than if i gently let off or give it little gas then let off. (if that makes sense, so yes its directly proportional)

yes it sits level

no odd wear on the tires

No, i havent measured the wheel base, but i will when i get home, never thought of that.

There are no noises.

The shocks and upper control arms are stock. Has after market lowers. All of the bushings seem to be in good shape.

It just gradually started and became worse. You can literally see the car move if you follow behind me when i do it.

I have a king cobra clutch, alum driveshaft, 4.10 ford racing gears. everthing else is stock. except for FRP lowering springs and lower control arms. I also put the torque box reinforcements on and that didnt help the problem.

No I have not checked my shock mounts, i will also do that when I get home, that is the only mechanical thing i havent looked at.

Just replaced the engine mounts, and tranny mount not too long before that.

Hey man thanks alot for trying to help me, when i get home and do those couple things i will post it asap. Thanks again.

Stangar · Aug 6, 2005

stangbear427 said:
You never did say if it was a stick or auto?

Do you think the rear is located where it belongs while accelerating, or decelerating?

Does it do it under any deceleration at all? Like, is the force of the rear shifting directly proportional to the speed at which you pull off the gas pedal? (i.e. slowly ease off the gas= little shimmy/abruptly disengage throttle=big shift)

Does it sit level?

How is the wear on the tires, any strange patterns?

Have you measured your wheelbase from hub to hub on both sides to see if it's square?

Are you getting any noises? Clunks, grinds, buzzes, etc.

How old is the suspension?

Did this just drop out of the sky, or right after working on it, or was it a long time coming?

What drive line parts have you changed from stock, from the clutch out to the rear tires? (one thing on my mind is adjustable control arms)

Have you checked your shock mounts?

How are your engine/tranny mounts? (doesn't sound like them, but I've heard at least 100 very different symptoms that all turned out to be mounts). Gimme some more!

You do know your stuff. I am betting one of the shocks bolts inside the car is loose/missing. What was the final say on this?

Rear end loose, not like your thinking!

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