$900+ and I still have the problem.Weird!

[30harry]

Hi all,

New to the forum and found this by searching for solutions to my 2005 2.5 outback problem.

Going down the road around 60mph in a straight line and everything running smooth. If I flick the steering wheel either left or right and back to center then the vehicle starts a serious left to right "wobble" (for want of a better term) and it is almost like the car suspension is resonating and the "wobble" goes on for a while and finally subsides. It feels like someone is standing beside the car and grasping the luggage rack on the top, starts to seriously push and pull the car sideways.

There is no vibration from tires or steering during normal driving and I can't feel the wheels moving left and right (although that is sort of what the cars motion feels like it is responding to).

If on a rough road, the car does similar things at lower speeds. I can tell the suspension is not responding properly to the bumps in the road but can't tell exactly what it is doing.

I have replaced the struts all the way around and also the upper mount bushings. Around $900+ so far and the local mechanic (nearest Subaru dealer is over 60 miles away) says "I've never seen a car do that before. I don't know what is wrong with it".

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Harry

[there4igraham]

Check your lug nuts and make sure your wheels are all on properly. I had a loose wheel do something similar. I hope it's something easy.

[30harry]

Originally Posted by there4igraham

Check your lug nuts and make sure your wheels are all on properly. I had a loose wheel do something similar. I hope it's something easy.

That would be nice. Thanks for the tip. But those wheels have been on and off that vehicle so many times in the last six weeks or so. First I tried the front struts (it has 140,000 miles on it). Then I took it to a local "suspension" shop and they did the rear struts and when that didn't fix it they said they thought it was the front suspension upper bushings (what ever that is) and they also did a left cvs or is it csv joint under their warranty as they had installed a new one just last year.

So total, the tires have been on and off maybe four or five times since the problem started. I know I tightened them every time and I'm assuming the local mechanic did the same.

The "wobble" problem is just as bad or maybe even a little worse than when it originally started up.

I thought about a "steering dampener" but I was told Subaru didn't have such a thing. Maybe it needs one

I thought about anti-sway bars but the mechanic said he checked them and they appeared to be working fine.

I'm open to any ideas at all.

Harry

[Novablue]

I'm not aware that this is a common problem but tires were the first thing I thought of.

If it were me I'd take my mechanic on the drive and replicate the problem for him/her. Sounds like the other shop isn't really helping solve your problem but are helping make your wallet lighter. Post up where your at and someone is likely to recommend a proper shop.

[subiesailor]

Wheel bearings - worn out tie rods etc. Some advice keep the whipping of the wheel to a minimum till you sort out the issues.

[scoutback!]

I thought the front suspension upper bushings at first, but if they did that you should be good. Have you had any recent service done? is there any noise when the car wobbles? (sway bar issues can usually be heard by shaking the car by hand) One thought would be the front upper spring seats... if the spring isnt held in place the spring it self could be shifting... Maybe ball joints, although not likely. Simple test is go out an cut the wheel all the way to one side, left or right, when steering is as far as it can go, give a little gas and see if the car returns the steering wheel to center without the help of your hands.

[tdelker]

Upper mount bushing is a little unclear. Are you talking about something in the strut (top hat?) of the bushing in the control arm? They leak out, and then don't work. Look at control arm connection points.

[HDSkullfire2]

First.. what tires are you running??? I discovered this issue with my 05 XT doing the same thing and solved it.. (Note, the know suspension issue is not the main problem only a contributor to the overall problem)

The original Potenza's that came on 05's were stiffer sidewall tires.. Many aftermarket tires do not have a stiff enough sidewall and Outbacks exert a strong roll on the sidewalls.. I ended up trying quite a few different tire brands before settling on the Hankook Ventus V4 ES 225/55ZR17 101W XL The XL stands for extra load (Sidewall).. Once I put them on.. that tire rolling issue went away and the car has been much more stable since......

Although many still don't notice how much the 3rd gen Outback's from those years exert on the inner and outer edges of the tires.. Keep an eye on the edges..!! If they are wearing and the mid tread is not, then the sidewall stiffness is most likely the cause..

These tires also need to be run at around 40 psi +/- otherwise they don't wear evenly..

Hope this helps

Steve Nordahl
Bethlehem, Pa.

[Saint J VT]

Try running your tires about ten pounds higher than normal (run them at maximum), then try ten pounds under normal.

See if the difference in air pressure one way or the other changes the problem by either solving it or making it worse.

That should help you to narrow down the possibilities.

[30harry]

Originally Posted by Saint J VT

Try running your tires about ten pounds higher than normal (run them at maximum), then try ten pounds under normal.

See if the difference in air pressure one way or the other changes the problem by either solving it or making it worse.

That should help you to narrow down the possibilities.

Thanks for all the tips. I'll try to get some testing done tomorrow. I called Subaru in Springfield, MO and they can get me an appointment next Monday at 10:30. So, I have that set up for a "fall back".

There aren't many options near where I'm located (60 miles east of Springfield). I did take it to another shop here in town and they said they couldn't work on it but it sounded like something they had read about in the last two weeks related to Subaru vehicles. They said they thought it was called "crow hopping" but that sounds like the clutch plate problem on 4wd Subarus where the rear wheels slip around a turn because the differential clutches aren't slipping like they are supposed to.

It sounds like the Subaru "ghost walking" thing to me but I can't believe there could ever be a problem this serious with suspension where replacing the struts doesn't fix it. All I want it to do is drive like it did when it had under 80K miles on it. I don't want to run at Riverside.

Everyone that talks about that problem talks about putting stiffer springs on the back and upgraded performance shocks/struts and a bigger anti sway bar.

I'll test the tire pressure thing but the problem has been there for quite a while and I'm sure the tire pressures has been up and down during that time.

I love the thought of making it either better or worse. I just wish it would totally fail. That way it would be MUCH easier to fix. I much prefer something broke versus something that is "sort of broke". Comes from my days of working on main frame computers.

Harry