Crown Victoria wagging the dog at low speed

[panthermike]

That is the best way I could describe it haha. At low speeds, I can feel what seems like the back end ever so slightly swaying side to side. at higher speeds I don't notice that, however between 60 and 72 mph there is definitely more vibration than there used to be. Could it be tires needing balanced?

I know I'll probably just need to look into things but any ideas on where to start would be very helpful!

 

[eljefino]

More likely a bent rim or a tire with belt problems. A dynamic balance problem is hard to feel with a solid rear axle.

 

[daves87rs]

More likely a bent rim or a tire with belt problems. A dynamic balance problem is hard to feel with a solid rear axle.

This

 

[JavierH19]

Rear suspension should be checked, sounds like the sway bar bushings as if it was just a rim or tire problem it wouldn't do that just vibrate but still go straight.

 

[RedSpider]

My Sequoia started wagging its tail at highway speeds coming back from Detroit. Checked everything, didnt find anything obvious. It was minor and figured maybe it was the highway pavement or something. No bad vibration or anything. Did it again a few days later, nothing major just felt weird. Couple weeks later I was on I-65 passing the Corvette museum and it started wagging again. In the span of a mile or so it got worse in a dang hurry, suddenly felt like I was in hurricane winds. Then.... KABOOM. Left rear tire blew out.

New tires, no more wagging.

 

[panthermike]

Thanks for the responses thus far fellas, I'll start with the rear tires as they are needing to be replaced anyways

 

[mattd]

Check watts link and rear control arm bushings for wear in addition to the tires.

 

[ripcord]

I had a Ford Explorer start doing what you describe. It was a bad rear wheel bearing. I jacked up the rear and found one wheel that had nearly an inch of end play. Surprisingly the bearing wasn't very noisy and I didn't notice until it started a little side to side boogie at certain speeds.

 

[panthermike]

Check watts link and rear control arm bushings for wear in addition to the tires.

This is a great suggestion, thank you. I was reading about this and many experienced the same thing from a bad watts link. I'll take a look at it today.

 

[Fattylocks]

I had a bad tire on my Crown Vic. Was at the rear and didn't really notice it until I rotated them and wow. Automatic left turn.

 

[bdcardinal]

Check watts link and rear control arm bushings for wear in addition to the tires.

Upgrade to ADTR ones while you are in there.

 

[D60]

I had a Ford Explorer start doing what you describe. It was a bad rear wheel bearing. I jacked up the rear and found one wheel that had nearly an inch of end play. Surprisingly the bearing wasn't very noisy and I didn't notice until it started a little side to side boogie at certain speeds.

SRA or IRS?

 

[D60]

I didn't even realize they employed a Watts (I'm only aware of some of the Durangos), but that could obviously make sense as it's essentially your "track bar"

Curious what OP finds

 

[ripcord]

SRA or IRS?

IRS. The wheel bearing captured the axle in that design.

 

[Nick1994]

I agree with the tires.

My aunt had her 1970 Beetle restored a couple years ago and the shop put on some new cheap Sentury 195/65R15 rear tires. After that the car was all over the road. I took it to 3 different shops and they checked the alignment, suspension, steering etc and couldn’t figure it out. It was completely un-drivable above 45 or so. Was a bad brand new tire or two.

 

[D60]

I agree with the tires.

My aunt had her 1970 Beetle restored a couple years ago and the shop put on some new cheap Sentury 195/65R15 rear tires. After that the car was all over the road. I took it to 3 different shops and they checked the alignment, suspension, steering etc and couldn’t figure it out. It was completely un-drivable above 45 or so. Was a bad brand new tire or two.

Way back around 2005 I got some 235/85/16s on an F350 from Peerless. The price for 4 was incredibly low but I just used the truck locally so I figured it would be ok.

Afterward the truck pulled hard left and I could never figure out how tires would cause a hard pull. Honestly, I don't recall if I tried rotating them, but it had not pulled before the new tires.

 

[panthermike]

Update, found the problem. Nice when it shows itself

 

[ripcord]

Holy broken belts, Batman!

 

[someonesomewhere]

Update, found the problem. Nice when it shows itself

View attachment 221822

That's exactly what I expected it to be when you first posted. That'll do it every time.

 

[panthermike]

That's exactly what I expected it to be when you first posted. That'll do it every time.

Yes spot on, appreciate the help!