What is the cause of this? I had the car aligned a while ago but it did not help. Two of my three have done his when backing up. I had an old guy looking to see if something was broken when I backed up by him, it was almost hopping and creaking so much. The front end was redone by last owner about 14,000 miles ago. I did also swap the struts from the old car.

 

does the car hop around any other time or only when you are turning and backing up? Is it turn direction specific? Is it coming from the front or back of the car?

 

It only happens when backing, definately from the front. I have only noticed it when backing to the right, but I will try the other way in the morning to be sure. The car darts around on grooved roads which some people have said is normal from wide tires and others I have read said that it is ball joints. The inner tire on the driver's side is slightly more worn, but that could be from the drama of backing up.

 

ya they dart around on grooved pavement a bit (scared the living crap out of me the first time that happened, i live near a truck stop and they have grooves so deep you can see them from two intersections away)

that sounds weird, only when backing up. all i can think of is the front brakes are messed up. i know not much help

 

Are the wheels cut all the way when it happens? I think its normal to a certain extent, things get pretty crazy with these cars when the wheels are turned all the way.

 

It really seems suspension related. The wheel is just barely turned and it starts to do it, if I did full lock I feel like the wheels would snap off. It does do it both ways.

 

Check the lower control arm to K member bushings. Worn bushings will cause your issues.