Any vibrations in the steering wheel? accidents? clunking noises at control arms? If replacing all 4 tires and having an alignment done didn't fix the prob you gotta take into account that the mechanic didn't do the job correctly. Does the steering wheel look centered and aligned? Maybe the mechanic forgot to tighten the tie rod nuts or adjusted them improperly. Maybe he/she used the wrong specs on the alignment machine....

 

No vibration in the wheel, no clunking noises, and the wheel is centered when driving straight. I've hit 2 deer with this Corolla but both were cosmetic damage only, no other accidents.

What tires did you use? What is your air pressure set at?

Have you ever replaced the power steering fluid? You may have a power steering system that is overboosting the system and causing a wander. Try doing a full fluid flush:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/1...2003-2008-corolla-matrix-pontiac-vibe-power-steering-fluid-exchange-w-pics.html

Does the car dive in the front excessively when braking? Does it squat excessively when accelerating? The bounce test isn't the best test. If it dives or squats excessively it may have blown struts.

I put Cooper tires on it, all seasons (don't recall the exact model of tire). I think this is only the 3rd set of tires. The last ones wore pretty evenly til the bitter end. Don't recall tire pressure offhand either but I'll check.

I have flushed the power steering using that (or a similar) FAQ but it's probably been 2 years or more. Could probably use another, and it's due for an oil change this weekend anyway so maybe I'll get inspired.

The car does not dive under braking any more than I'd expect, or any more than I recall. I'd say it squats more than it dives, but nothing "excessive". The ride is rough. It does not ride like a car with bad shocks, i.e. after a bump it does not continue to oscillate. It rides more like a truck with springs that are too heavy. You feel every bump very harshly in the car. Not sure what that might be a sign of. I seem to recall being disappointed with the ride quality from day 1. This was my wife's car mainly, I had a Kia Spectra at the time and I liked it much better. I've been daily-driving the Corolla for only about the past year, but I drove it off and on since new depending on where we were going and which car made the most sense, so I do have memories of it going back to new.

 

What tires did you use? What is your air pressure set at?

Have you ever replaced the power steering fluid? You may have a power steering system that is overboosting the system and causing a wander. Try doing a full fluid flush:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/1...2003-2008-corolla-matrix-pontiac-vibe-power-steering-fluid-exchange-w-pics.html

Does the car dive in the front excessively when braking? Does it squat excessively when accelerating? The bounce test isn't the best test. If it dives or squats excessively it may have blown struts.

 

Are the tries over inflated? I run my tires at 40 psi for less friction and fuel economy. It wanders some on the road.
Before you ask, I do not mind the bumpy ride and skidding through turns........

 

A quick update, the tires are Cooper Response. This is the third set of tires on the car, the originals were replaced at 62,000 and these were put on at 143,000 (longer ago than I thought). I drive 100-140 miles per day, so the miles do rack up pretty fast. Pressure at the moment is 35psi all the way around. I rotate the tires every 5,000 miles when I change the oil (both of which I do myself). No abnormal wear on either of the past two sets of tires, and no abnormal wear so far on the current tires which have about 6/32 of tread left.

 

I would get a second shop to check out ball joints, bushings, alignment etc.
Bringing the tire pressure down to the amount on the door label (30-32psi?)will reduce the harshness a little.

 

agree

I would get a second shop to check out ball joints, bushings, alignment etc.

agree.. if this indeed the issue, get a complete control arm suspension kit off eBay. But, if you want a challenge and headaches... get 03-08 Martix Master Energy Suspension kit :grin:

 

Set tire pressures at 30 psi cold as recommended. Get new struts ASAP to replace original 162,000 mile struts. I go through a set every 50-60,000 miles.

KYB GR-2 or Monroe OESpectrum

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/toyota,2008,corolla,1.8l+l4,1440244,suspension,strut,7584

 

John, you ever get this sorted out?
Same issue with my 2005 Matrix. Replaced bearings, struts, sway bar links, tires, etc. and had it into three different shops. Still have the issue, though. Wondering if you ever figured it out?

 

Also, make sure your front suspensions' control arms' rear bushing aren't ripped or unbonded, and that you have no free-play in wheel bearings and inner tie-rod ends.

 

Wandering is generally caused by either a steering problem or a tire problem.

If your suspension checks out, then it could be an issue with tie rod ends (inner or outer) and/or the steering rack itself.

 

So the weekend before last I tackled the easy stuff/maintenance. I changed the oil, flushed the power steering, rotated the tires, and adjusted the pressure to 31 psi. No discernible difference in the wandering issue. I wanted to give it a good week of driving to be sure.

On an odd side note, I had my wife drive the car on the highway since she drove it more than I did when it was new. I pointed out what it was doing and her response was "it's always kind of done that". I don't know if she's right or not, but it's an interesting point.

Struts will have to wait until warmer weather, and it probably needs them whether they're related to this specific complaint or not, but if anyone has another suggestion in the mean time I'm all ears...

 

A while back I replaced the steering rack bushings with a set of energy suspension bushings for a Celica. It took a tiny bit of modification but stiffened things up quite a bit.

 

This is a tough one. I'd say if it aint the alignment, suspension, or tires, i'd get a second opinion from another shop. Sounds as if a tire is going to blow, but you said you've replaced the tires so i really don't know.

My gf's 9th gen corolla would pull hard right with steering wheel vibrations at highway speeds. Come to find out tires were running on steel. New tires fixed the prob, but will need alignment.

 

163,000 mile struts... Need I say more?

 

On a 78 Dodge 1 ton chassis camper van I had, what I thought was a steering problem, even after a complete front end rebuild and alignment (which WAS needed, however), turned out to be the rear shocks being worn out. It was fish tailing/wobbling at highway speeds, which made it feel like the steering was screwed up. New Bilstein shocks on the rear cured the problem instantly. With a stiffer rear, I no longer had to fight to keep it going straight down the road at 70mph.

 

I got new Monroe struts on special at Canadian Tire, and they're guaranteed for life... I just get a new set and replace them myself when they're worn out. I also align it myself, so it's no big deal.

 

Your wife might be right, my first 2006 I bought brand new had a slight wandering problem and it was due to the rear axle being slightly out, dealer said it was just in specs so they wouldn't do anything so I took it to a body shop with a true 4 wheel alignment machine and they put tiny shims on the rear hubs to make it perfect and it was but before I did that I went though tires every 30,000 miles if I rotated, the backs would actually wear faster than the front.
My current one wanders with the trucker ruts but that's the winter tires pulling it around same as my wife's Corolla (same brand winters).

 

Well, as I suggested to OP in private message, try posting -actual- measured specs on alignment. Adjusting toe-in to most negative spec might help, but agree with worn-out shocks/struts as possible.

 

Still here, still driving the Corolla. 164,500 miles and counting. I'm pretty sure it's unrelated, so I started a different thread for it, but I think my LF CV joint is starting to fail as well. Probably because I'm putting 100+ miles a day on the car, finding all the weak points. The CV joint(s) and the struts would make a decent weekend job, maybe for once the timing of a failed part is in my favor.


Briand, like I'd mentioned in response to your PM, unfortunately Sears didn't give me a printout of the actual specs with the alignment. Just a printout with a bunch of green check-boxes showing that the car was "in spec" when they were finished. I'd prefer not to spend $150 on an alignment at a different shop just to find out what the alignment is, especially since I may need an alignment after I do the struts.

 

Did you ever get this fixed? I'm having the same problem!

 

I have a customer's 2014 Tacoma pre runner . And I have replaced everything in the front end rear end inflated deflated tires the only thing left is the rack steering. My issue is if you touch it just a touch to the left it goes left if you touch it to the right it goes right. This one almost had me turning in my toolbox.

 

No one has recommended to check the brakes for wear and see if there's a difference or that the brake hoses might be weak and causing sticking brakes?

 

No way.

 

It’s aerodynamic. It wanders because the car is really light and there can be improvements on how the wind flows on the car but there’s no such product available for this chassis. You can immediately remedy the wandering from adding more weight in the vehicle. The most important piece that should be checked is the control arm bushings and wheel play.

Other than that, if you are looking for more insurance I’d look into lowering the car and building aero pieces to direct wind flow. Also, check that your wheel well guards are in tact. It’s common to see clips break off the wheel well and force the guard to run against the front wheels which creates holes in your wheel well guard. Replace them and block off the wind going towards the wheel well to prevent dirty air from entering the wheel area cause that will be a huge drag, literally. If you are missing fog light covers, replace them and block the fog light holes or get fog lights.

Aero is probably the most overlooked item on this city dweller machine. Previously I used to never go above 75mph due to this issue of wander, after installing coilovers to lower the vehicle and changing to polyurethane control arm bushings I can push 95mph barrier stable. Maybe 85mph with 15mph wind gusts. But ultimately, my limiting factor today is weight because I drive solo across states and lack of more aero bits to direct wind flow. Will build a carbon flat-ish floor under the car to prevent as much dirty/trapped air at speed.


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