front end probs

[pb1998]

Hi! My 2000 windstar is shaking really bad and pulling to the right horribly as I let go of the wheel when on the hwy going between 60 and 70. In fact I am scared to get it going at 70 mph anymore! Does this sound like front tie rod ends needing adjustments? I read something about those on another post ( i did research this a bit). I was looking at my tires and they seem to be wearing on the outside. I could really use some help! I am a young, married, pregnant mom and my hubby is kind of a novice when it comes to cars! We are going to San Antonio 300 miles away for Christmas and I am afraid this will hurt the vehicle if we keep driving it like it is. Will it be dangerous or cause more damage??

I appreciate any help you could offer!!

pb1998

[eschimmelmann]

You are probably right on with the tie end rods if you are at 5 years with not having done them yet they are ready. As far as the pull I have had problems with tires causing a pull or the ends are so bad that the alignment is way out now. Get it to a shop. If you keep driving number 1 you can't control the vehicle properly in an emergency situation since the wheel won't follow your steering exactly and two they could break have you ever seen a car on the side of the road with a front wheel pointing the opposite direct of the other front wheel. Another note is that if the front struts are worn you could be getting a lot of wheel bouce since the job of the strut is to control and keep the wheel on the ground

Good luck been there done that.

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by pb1998

Hi! My 2000 windstar is shaking really bad and pulling to the right horribly as I let go of the wheel when on the hwy going between 60 and 70. In fact I am scared to get it going at 70 mph anymore! Does this sound like front tie rod ends needing adjustments? I read something about those on another post ( i did research this a bit). I was looking at my tires and they seem to be wearing on the outside. I could really use some help! I am a young, married, pregnant mom and my hubby is kind of a novice when it comes to cars! We are going to San Antonio 300 miles away for Christmas and I am afraid this will hurt the vehicle if we keep driving it like it is. Will it be dangerous or cause more damage??

I appreciate any help you could offer!!

pb1998

How long have you owned the van? How many miles on it? Have you had it aligned? Is there any slack in the steering? (ie...do you have to turn the steering wheel a bit from right to left before the van reacts? This would mean that some steering linkage (inner or outter tierod ends or steering rack)).

Your tires along with the the pulling to one direction are telling you that your van is out of alignment which may be fixed by just an adjustment or by replacing parts and then an alignment. It also sounds like tire ballancing or replacement is in order. I would say that out of ballance tires are part of your shaking.

I would get this fixed before doing the 300 miles. I just got done helping my brother with a flat tire. He wore out (down to the cords) a 4 month old tire because his car was out of alignment. Right now I have his car and will be replacing the worn front end parts and getting it aligned.

I do (and preaty much saying the same thing) agree with the first respons.

Regards

Dan

[PumpItUp]

I have to agree with the two previous returns.. I would being looking at the tire first.. could be a blister or as Le Sabre mentioned cords gone haywire.. if you had the tires rotated recently and they mixed the tire up the internal steel belts of the tire can throw the whole rotation off like a wobly saucer at high speeds. Have them checked for balancing firstly. And, because you never mentioned that they had done this at normal operating speed and only notice at 50-60 MPH or 90-100 KMH up heretehn that may be your culprit Excessive tire wear on outside inflation pressure,front end alignment (toe in or "+" camber) or could be a suspension arm bent or twisted ..good luck and good luck with teh baby as well .. Drive Safe!!

[wiswind]

They will give your front end a good shakedown during the alignment. If there is a problem there...they will find it. I once you have done the alignment...and fixed any problems that they might possibly find (and they may not find any other problem), then...I would get new tires.

[pb1998]

Hi! Thank you all soooo much for your helpful replies! I ended up taking it to our local tire place and I definately needed to replace both front tires! My husband was telling me "oh, they look good, no need to change them, blah blah blah, " Well, the guy at the tire place showed me the tires and the right front was showing metal through and some shredding, and the left front was beginning to shred!!! I nearly fell over when he showed me. I told him " I've been to 3 different towns that are no less than 30 miles away one way in the past two weeks!!!" He said that if it would have been hot weather, that they would have blown. He said I was very lucky. I am so thankful nothing happened! Now, it drives like a dream, and he did say I needed to come back in for an alignment in a few weeks, but I just don't have the $150 + bucks right now to do it! I will as soon as I can though! Thanks so much for your help!

[wiswind]

I would get the alignment.....If it is off....it not only may have caused the uneven wear on your old tires....but it could do the same to the new ones.

Oh...I do hear you on the money issue.....just don't let it go too long....as you want the new tires to last.