I have an 05 Cav, base with only intake and exhaust done. When I am on the highway or above 50mph the car wanders around... it feels like its hydroplaning or riding on ice. Holding the wheel perfectly straight the car will float left and right, its even worse when I ride in lanes with grooves from trucks, or behind a semi with a trailer the wind forces the car around.
I had my tires rotated and balanced, I removed the 40pound speaker box from the trunk, windows up or down and it still does the same thing. The car and tires only have 15,000 miles, there is no un-even wear or cupping in the tires. I also tried different tire pressures from 30 to 40psi with no change in the wandering. The car has stock 194/75/14's on it. Alignment is perfect too.
Any ideas?
Welcome to the wonderful world of the wondering Cavalier.
If your tires are at the correct pressure and you are sure your alignment is correct, then about the only thing I can suggest is to look into improving your suspension. I personally feel that my cav wonders a bit too much on the highway compared to my other cars. Always has since I bought it. The biggest improvement was adding a rear sway bar. That at least took care of the rear end wagging when making lane changes and such.
upgrade the suspension. i like the wandering, it kinda makes me feel like im flying, and then i get there faster!
|Forged 8.9:1 Wiseco Pistons|Forged Eagle Rods|HPTuners|60trim|Tial Wastegate|
|Precision Intercooler|2.5" Exhaust|2.5" Charge Pipes|630CC Mototron Injectors|
|Stock: Fuel Pump, Transmission, Manifold, TB, Head, Head Gasket, Ignition, Suspension...|
I had the same problem with my 2001 base. Once I added the front and rear sway bars the entire problem went away......and if you are going throught the hassel of dropping the front sub frame you might as well to springs and struts to finish it all off at once.
Quiklilcav wrote:If your car is wandering at 50mph, I'm thinking there is a bad ball joint or tie rod end. It doesn't make any sense that it acts like this at that low of a speed. Do you have any knocks or clunks in your front end? I'd have it checked out.
The car has done it since the day I purchased it (had 1 mile on the car). If I accelerate to pass a car there is no wandering, its only when cruising at an even speed. I guess the best way to describe it is to be in a pick up with a over loaded trailer, how it causes the the truck to sway side to side. There is no clunking or noises in the suspension, I even crawled under it and started checking and tightening bolts. Nothing was loose.
The car is still under warranty, so I can bring it in and have them check it out. I just don't feel like wasting a day at the dealership to be told they can't find anything wrong. Were is a good place to pick up a front and rear sway bar for a decent price? I may hit the junk yard and look for a stock one off the LS sport.
It all goes back to what you are used to and what you expect a car to feel like at highway speeds. When I bought my Z years ago, I took it in to the dealership several times thinking something was wrong because it was so sloppy(floaty/wondering) on the highway. My previous two cars (Probe GT, Calais International) weren't nearly that sloppy on the highway. Those previous cars were extremely stable at speed unlike the cav was. Just adding a rear sway-bar got rid of the rear end floating around problem for the most part on my cav.
You can pick up a front one at a junkyard, but you will have to look for an aftermarket rear one.
Wait... is that your car? Is it REALLY that low? That will have a good ammount to do with that. Honestly, when someone refers to 'improper lowering' that would be a good example.
I also do not care if you say it's done that since forever. That's still not right to have it that low.
Also, your car, while heavier than something like a civic, is still not real heavy. It's going to get pushed around when you're driving in the slipstream of a big truck. Get right up behind that trailer, (within a few feet) and it'll stop. The truck isnt the most areodynamic thing in the world... it's gonna make a lot of disturbance cutting through the air. That's what you're feeling man.
For riding in grooves... most all car is going to try to follow those.
Other than that, the Cavaliers dont have the variable assist PS to them. (I dont think they do anyways, maybe they do...certainly dont feel like it) So a slight touch on that steering wheel and it's gonna move the car around.
SHOoff wrote:Wait... is that your car? Is it REALLY that low? That will have a good ammount to do with that. Honestly, when someone refers to 'improper lowering' that would be a good example.
I also do not care if you say it's done that since forever. That's still not right to have it that low.
No my car isn't that low, I made that in paintshop pro a while back for fun and just used it here for a sig.
My car is stock height, I wouldn't ruin it by dropping it like that.
Looks like its time to find a good rear sway bar and see if that helps out. Thanks everyone.
i have the same prob dude i am glad i am not the only one i though my car was just messed up
yup welcome to the non swaybar cavalier
2009 Ford Mustang V6
I had a problem like this once also. come to find out the bolts that hold the a arms (the front ones) had walked loose and broke. so see if they have on your car. hope this helps.
My Sig Was To Big
yep the base model blues i have this problem it blows big time on road trips. I am gonna go to the junk yard and get a frount stablizer bar i think their like $50. You dont need special tires or anything dont you love it when the 18 wheeler goes by and you feel like you gonne die!!!
darkblade j
how do u install one? Is it hard?
darkblade j
despite what everyone says here it SHOULD NOT be happening stock or not.
My wife has an 05 cavy. and even at 70mph on the highway it doesn't wander.
Only thing I could think is that the belts in the tires are shifted possibly.
Have them fix the problem; It is repeatable, and it should be covered under warranty. Don't put anything aftermarket on the car till they fix this problem.
-Chris
