The car is a 90 RS TBI...

I just got 225/60/15 on the front and 245/60/15 on the back. There are a couple odd things happening now. First off, about 85mph the car seems to jerk a bit left and right without really getting centered. Doesn't happen when going arround bends in the fwy but on straights. The second thing is there is a squeek type noise coming from somewhere in the front(steering) when stopped and when turning the wheel a bit. Those things were not there before. Any clue about either one?

Thanks...

 

I had the exact same problem with a 91rs, took it to several garages, even three seperate gm dealers, NO ONE HAD A CLUE and there solution was that its common on these cars. I say BS. My iroc does not have these problems. So post away folks!!!! I never did figure out what was wrong!!!!!

 

I was told that it was the tires... Even if I got the crappiest tires made they should be ok for at least the first day... They are the futuras from pep boys.... (needed new tires that day... cheap)

What else could it be?

I did get the car alligned about 3 weeks before the new tires... Could the allignment be changed from getting new tires???

 

the squeek sounds like your power steering belt slipping... Turning the wheels while the car is stopped takes alot of pressure.

The left/right dodging could be a loose/worn idler arm or center link. The wheels may also now be out of alignment because the tires are stickier... gone around any corners fast?

 

It doesn't really sound like a belt squeek... And I hear it mostly when coming to work driving up the parking garage. I know my trans is leaking a bit to... maybe it's leaking onto something...but still shouldn't squeek...

I replaced the center link about a year ago.

I go around corners fast most of the time...

 

low power steering fluid is what it sounds like to me, making your steering box squeal. as for hunting, the fact that youve raked the car by putting taller tires in the rrear will cause the nose end to track around while pointing straight, give you a quicker easier turn in, often unexpectedley turning sharper than you wanted. has to do with the weight transfer, more weight on the front wheels along with an increased angle on a stock caster. come to think of it, that would also cause more stress on the steering gear and pump, likely causing the slight squeal. used to get the tracking problem in my old 77 camaro when i had airshocks in the back, 275/60's and the shocks lifting the rear 4.5 inches. solution? possibly another alignment, but i don't think thatll help. even size tires, lower the rear end slightly, or put more fluid in and deal with the tracking.

 

Ok, thats what I was thinking it was BUT... just about every single hotrod I see around here has big *** tires in the back and small or even "skinnys" on the front. It does make sence though. I had that happen on a truck I had before. The rear end is only about a half an inch to an inch higher than the front.... The squeak thing makes sense with the weight on it... Putting the same size tires all around would probably fix that right? The look isnt as noticable as I wanted anyways.... And "hunting" at 115 is not that cool...LOL....

Thanks for all the help!

(The turning thing is right on also. I can steer the car with no effort at all.)

 

OK, here is an update.... I am going back to pep boys and they have agreed to replace the rear tires and put matching ones on. 22560/15 all around. That should clear up all the problems right???

 

it should. as for hot rods and such, most of them are bothe VERY light weight and ride on an aftermarket suspension usually setup for it, which is why the rear tires tuck so low into the rear fenders, and why all those ford highboys sit so level with a large discrepancy in tire sizes. it should fix it, but you never can tell with the squeal, it might go away, it might not.

 

Ok, so I got the new tires on and it's a little better but it's still there....whatever it is. It's at least controlable now.

The squeak.... sounds like wet rubber or something... And it's not the tires on the ground....LOL

Any comments suggestions, anything??

 

possibly wet bushings?

 

Ok, that sounds possible. Could the trans possibly leak onto that anywhere? Cause I know the trans is leaking a bit. I'll have to check it out... kinda hard with a f---ed up back...LOL That's why I ask so many questions. Thanks for the help!

 

You don't have to put matching tires on, if the rake is actually the cause of your tracking problem. When you raise the rear of the car, that changes the car's castor setting because the car sort of rotates up and makes the castor more "vertical". Imagine the difference between a Harley motorcycle and a Honda sportbike. The angle that the fork is at on a Harley is leaned waay back compared to the sportbike. On the highway riding a Harley, you could let go of the bars and the bike would keep on truckin in a straight line. You'd be ill advised to do that on a superbike cause the wheel would flop all over the place. Well, not really, but it's just an analogy in extremes. Anyway, you could help it out a bit by leaning back the castor on your car.

If you decide to match up the tires anyway, why not match the 245s instead of the 225s?

Hm, I just noticed your screenname is Harley61.. So that's not the reason I used that particular story.. hehe.

 

The tires are already back to 225's probably should have gone to 245... these are cheaper tires... ill get the good ones once I figure out more problems. I am going to see if the place I got the alignment done at will redo it since it's only been about a month. I would bet that's what the problem was. It's still doing it a little bit but the rear tires are a little bit taller than the old worn ones that were on there when it was aligned.

Still have that squeak thing buggin me...

Thanks for all the input! Keep it coming....