steering wheel wiggle

Ok, my sister isn't the most careful driver out there. If there's a pot hole in the road, she won't try to avoid it, and she doesn't seem to care about hitting curbs. Anyways, today she came to my dad and told him that her steering wheel started shaking, and the car pulls both ways, first left then right a little, not too noticeable. So I drove it, and when you hold the wheel you feel a little movement in it, and when you let go it starts to wiggle back and forth. She says she hasn't hit any potholes, but my dad and I think its an aignment issue caused by that. Plus we know its not a tire issue, those are inflated equally, and the brakes are fine too. By the way this is a 97 Elantra. Any thoughts?

I agree with your assessment. Have the alignment checked and see if that's it.

yeah, living in my area of SoCal, you definitely need to have your alignment done 1-2 times a year.

yeah, living in my area of SoCal, you definitely need to have your alignment done 1-2 times a year.

I think SoCal is universally catching up to the east coast in terms of road quality. =) Of course I live here to and grew up back there. =) Good luck!

well, Ventura County only gets enough money to resurface and repair roads every 14 yrs, when the federal government recommends every 4 yrs. So, needless to say all the potholes and cracks don't help your alignment much.

well, Ventura County only gets enough money to resurface and repair roads every 14 yrs, when the federal government recommends every 4 yrs. So, needless to say all the potholes and cracks don't help your alignment much.

I live in LA County, but my g/f lives up in Canyon Country which is the Santa Clarita Valley. Sierra Highway killed a tire and stock rim this past winter. I feel your pain. =P

yep, driving in SoCal sucks.

hey measure ur tie rods from the inside of ur tie rod to ur tie rod boot and make sure its 7.1 inches if thats the case on each side check ur ball joints the rubber is probably wasted or gone, get back to me on ur findings goodluck