Topic: New Control Arms+Alignment=Bad Handling

[GIAudi]

Just repalced the font of the car mostly. Control arms, bearings, brake rotors, CV Joints, the whole shebang, took it to get aligned and the car handles poorly. If I hit a bump it seems the car really wanders and the steering is a little sluggish. If I hit a dip the car really feels weird.  All the suspension noise is gone but the car just doesn't feel right.

Anybody have any ideas?? Want to come for a test ride??

[Legato]

I'll ride with you.  Who did the alignment?

[GIAudi]

Found a shop by me that seemed to know what they were doing. He knew about the cars and the bump toe settings for the car. He did a 4 wheel alignment on it.  I just think I may have done something wrong or assembled something improperly.  I followed Bentley step by step, but something is not right.

Where are you located??

[ken]

I assume you have checked that everyting is torqued correctly?   You said the noise is gone though, so everything is probably tight.   

[Castle]

I had a problem with a bad shock and after the alignment it REALLY became obvious.  You may want to check all the components.

[Legato]

Found a shop by me that seemed to know what they were doing. He knew about the cars and the bump toe settings for the car. He did a 4 wheel alignment on it.  I just think I may have done something wrong or assembled something improperly.  I followed Bentley step by step, but something is not right.

Where are you located??

I work in Farmington Hills, and I live in Sterling Heights.

[GIAudi]

I'm almost afraid to drive that far!!! I am going under the car again tonight, the problem seems to be on the passenger side.  When i hit a rising frost heave the front wheels chirped like they were being pulled inward.  When I make a left turn with maximum steering input the passenger tire is rolled over like the control arm is too short or something.  Turning right seems OK for the most part.  I took it down a dirt road that has a lot of potholes and there is no clunking. Just look out cause I can't predict where the car is going to go!!  I'm just at a complete loss. I spent a lot of time on the thing plus the money and it is still not right.

My shocks seem ok, over bumps the damping is still good. How do I test them??

I just reviewed the sheet from the alignment shop and he used the wrong parameters for the car. He had used the sport suspension and I have the non-sport model. It's seems the specs are different but could this cause that big of a problem.

[GIAudi]

A few more things, could I have the wrong arms installed?? From an A4 or something?  I also did new wheel bearings, CV Joints, brakes and the control arms.

I'm going to put it on ramps and get some pics.

After that it goes to Stefan.