96 Sable wobbles badly from side to side as I'm coming to a stop

[pgunpgun]

This is really freaking me out. The whole car starts shaking from side to side when I'm coming to a stop in certain places or driving at less than 5 mph. I feel it in the drivers seat. My whole body shakes from side to side. Really happened badly today when I was stuck in traffic on the highway. Embarassing problem cause I almost feel like a wheel is about to fall off.

I have no idea what the problem is.

Feels like it is coming from the rear of the car. Almost feels like I have a lopsided wheel or something. But it doesn't happen at higher speeds.

Anybody have a clue what this is? I have heard something about wheel bearings or Mercury struts?

Any help is appreciated.

[KimMG]

Bent rim
bent axle
bad bearings
loose lug nuts
some other suspension problem

Take it to a suspension shop and get it looked at.

[Slade901]

Do you hear grinding noise?
If your vehicle shakes as you come to a stop, it could be that your rotor is warped which causes your vehicle to wobble when coming to a stop. Have them check it out the rotor or you can check it out for yourself.

Make sure that the lugnuts on the tires are tight as well.

[pgunpgun]

Thanks for replying guys.

I checked all 4 tires yesterday for looseness and none of them were loose. So I don't think it's a bearing or lugnuts.


I have a feeling it's some kind of suspension problem. If all the shocks and struts were worn out, would that possibly cause something like this? The car would basically be riding on the springs then I guess.


Or it could be a bent axle or something like that. What ROTOR are you talking about?

The wobbling also occurs immediately as I accelerate from a stop also. It almost feels like the torque on the drive train is moving the car from side to side as I accelerate.

That's another reason that I think it might be some kind of strut or something that is worn out.

Looks like I'm gonna have to take it in to some kind of shop.

[pgunpgun]

Oh, also I don't hear any grinding sounds, To answer that question.

[PTG1212]

First thing that comes to my mind is worn ball joints. In any case you need to get this checked out. Could be very dangerous.

[pgunpgun]

OK, guys I think I found the problem.

Turns out might left rear tire on the drivers side has about a 6 inch bulge on the outside of the tire. Never came across this before in my life. Every time that tire rolled over that bulge my car wobbled. I took the tire off and tried rolling it on level pavement and it just falls over every time it hits that bulge.

Might be a defective tire or it might be a sign of something else wrong on the car. I'm not sure. The treads don't look any more worn on that part of the tire than rest of it.

I put the temporary spare tire on the car and the wobbling seemed to go away.

I hope that's alll it is and I will be very happy if that is it because a tire is very inexpensive to replace compared to some expensive suspension or bearing or ball joint problem.

Think I'll check the other 3 tires on the car for this problem tommorrow.

[diofan]

That could be a sign of Tire Seperation. where the steel belts inside the rubber start to deteriorate. This is also very dangerous as it causes Tire Blowouts when the belts finally give.

If one tire is bulging, just to play it safe, have all 4 checked. You don't want to ride on the temporary spare too long as it's hard on the suspension.