Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Suspension Jump Around

The back end of my 98CSVT like to jump to the right when going over bumps. My guess is a suspension issue. If anyone has an idea as to exactly is causing it please let me know. Also if you have any recommendation for upgrading the parts required to fix this problem I would appreciate hearing them.

Thanks

Excessive toe could create bumpsteer. Check your tires for feathering. If its toe, you will have a pattern that looks like:

/| /| /| /| /| /| /| <--bad drawing of tread

Fix would be an 4-wheel alignment. Though, you may also have a bent control arm. That would mess up your suspension geometry. Check for a toe problem first though.

Thanks for the reply. My car is in the shop as I type this. Your point on "toe in" is interesting as I haved chewed through a set of Uniroyal tiger paws in just under 12,000km. When I put them on I had a 4 wheel alignment done though. I will let you know what the dealership says.

Originally posted by CDNSVTGUY:

---

The back end of my 98CSVT like to jump to the right when going over bumps. My guess is a suspension issue. If anyone has an idea as to exactly is causing it please let me know. Also if you have any recommendation for upgrading the parts required to fix this problem I would appreciate hearing them.

Thanks

---

It might be worthwhile to contact a local body shop to find out what they charge to check car for straightness & squareness. I've heard that this can be a problem with new cars as well as ones with some time on them. All suspension components should be checked for damage also before you get too involved in "upgrading".

Contours seem notoriously sensitive to toe settings. Getting them in spec helps, but the shop needs to go a step further. Have then get the toe close to 0 as possible, and have both the left and right toe settings resenble each other as close as possible (i.e., a little variation between each toe reading as possible).

Then again, it may be a rear control arm. I've bent one and it absolutely ate through the inside of my left rear tire (also front tire).

Well, just got home with my Focus rental for the night. Dealership says new rear struts and linkage are on order and will be installed tomorrow. Gotta like ESP! Tried to talk them into covering the labour on installing upgraded struts if I paid for them but they wouldn't bite. I will let you know if this solves the problem.

New rear struts seems to have done the trick. Its nice to have the warranty coverage but I was drooling at the thought of acquiring a spring/strut lowering package.....oh well. Some other time. Now, I need to find some new rubber.