Camry 95,loose steering

[bumba]

Hey all:

My 95 camry is all over the road is snowy or icy conditions, even when crossing wet painted lines it veers sharply. We raised it on a lift uased a pry bar and looked for play in the ball joints, tie rods and general play, we found nothing obviously loose. The camber is off, specially so on the drivers side, it's eating the inside of the tires, sure sounds like ball joints or rods, but I couldn't see any play.

I'm going to buy a decent pair of used winter tires, then I'll decide what to do next. Should I try an alignment? or is that a waste of money without finding the main cause? What are the other parts I should inspect? Steering shaft u-joint? I don't hear any sounds that would make me think a bearing is worn excessively, nor is there a shimmy.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Bumba

[Mister_Perkins]

Probably should fix the issue before putting new tires on there, you'll just eat them up.

how did you check the Ball joints ? I know you said with a pry bar, but can you describe what you did to check them

[nevada]

if the camber is off, then so if the toe. it sounds like the toe is way out. that will cause what you're describing.

it wont be able to be aligned with shitty tires, nor worn components. but, it would be good to take it in to someone to have checked out. if the suspension is solid, and nothing is worn, it may just need an alignment. AFTER getting new tires.

[bumba]

Originally Posted by Mister_Perkins

Probably should fix the issue before putting new tires on there, you'll just eat them up.

how did you check the Ball joints ? I know you said with a pry bar, but can you describe what you did to check them

We lifted off the ground on a lift about 3", and put a 5' long pry bar with a kinda hook on the end under the tire and applied pressure in both directions while looking at the components under the car. we didn't observe any obvious play.

Also last night, after night school, my buddy followed me on a stretch of highway and drove around my car as we rolled. He said he could visually see that the drivers side tire was tilted top in, bottom out (camber or toe?). The only part I visually seen that looked loose was a piece about 2" long with a rubber o each end and a bolt through both ends that is placed right behind the hub. It's not the rod or ball joint and the manual i have didn't specify what it was or what it does, but that piece is loose. The mechanic said it's only 'for noise' and wouldn't be the problem. What is that piece and is that guy wrong?

Thanks again for the help.

[nevada]

tires in at the top is negative camber.
has the car been lowered?

[bumba]

Originally Posted by nevada

tires in at the top is negative camber.
has the car been lowered?

By lowered I guess you mean modified? if so, then no, i bought it from an old lady. Someone at school had mentioned that those cars have a bushing in the lower sterring table that can wear out and give all kinda grief because it acts as if the rods or loints are gone, could that be it? and if so, how would i be able to check thst bushing without taking off the table?

Thanks again for the help bud.

[kmfdeviant530]

Similar issue I have. My car is lowered tho, plus i have really bad struts. Im betting on the struts, yours are probably wasted too. grandmas drive over curbs all the effing time, so your alignment is probably off too. Im getting an alignment after i get my struts in. i can almost bet my steeringwheel play will be gone, but my tire wear probably wont get any better . just a suggestion, Get an alignment, replace bushings on just about everything (im going to be getting universal Energy suspension poly bushings)and check your struts.