Driving - struts replaced,no alignment,feels like flat tire?

Ok, so now the subie feels weird when I'm driving it, especially on the highway. It feels like there's a tire going flat...the car wants to go one way and the steering wheel the other.

Does this indicate some kind of suspension failure? Its very disconcerting to feel this, especially on the highway going 65 mph. Its not just going on the highway that it does this...side streets, its not noticeble until about 35-40mph but VERY noticable on the freeway.

We just replaced the struts in the front.

[ProjectLGT97]

did you get it aligned after you did the struts?

We have no idea if it was aligned....our mechanic didn't say anything about it.

[LegacyRob]

If he didn't mention it then it probably wasn't done. You really should have it aligned before anything else.

That's what I was thinking....but what if an alignment doesn't fix the problem? What else could it be?

[Okin DaVanh]

Loose parts or sway bar related.

[track8]

That's what I was thinking....but what if an alignment doesn't fix the problem? What else could it be?Don't overthink it. If it was fine-ish before the strut change (outside if the poor damping) and it feels screwie after, with no other changes, it is likely that the alignment is off now.

If it was screwie before, and new struts and an alignment didn't do the trick, an internet diagnosis will require more information.

[2.5GT]

- set the correct tire pressure?
- alignment?
- check for loose bolts/parts?

thats all i got :eek:

Hubby asked our mechanic if he aligned it and he said no. I cannot remember if the car did this before the struts were put in. I DO know that my CV joints (one on each side that I know of) are going bad...the boots are torn. So maybe that has a part in it.
We're going to have our mechanic drive it next week and see what he thinks...maybe get an alignment just before hand and see if it fixes the problem.

[J.McDonald Knives]

IF the mechanic didn't do an alignment after installing the struts then you need to find a better mechanic. Any mechanic with a brain knows to do an alignment after front suspension is messed with.

That's what I thought...that ANY time you mess with ANY suspension, an alignment should be done, but both my mechanic AND my husband said that since it was only the struts, that an alignment wasn't needed. Guess I should listen to that inner self talking lol. Guess an alignment is in order this weekend.

[track8]

quote> J.McDonald Knives IF the mechanic didn't do an alignment after installing the struts then you need to find a better mechanic. Any mechanic with a brain knows to do an alignment after front suspension is messed with. <quote

It varies with the car. There are only clearance holes in my DSM, so the alignment doesn't get wrecked much when changing struts on that thing. Legacy's are a different story.

Speaking of the Legacy, I've had the front end apart three times, for various reasons, since I had it aligned this spring. Trick is, I spray painted the location on the spindle/strut interface area before taking it apart. :cool: Drives like a champ.

Well, I'm still gonna spend the $50 to have the car aligned. See if that clears up some issues. If not,then its back to square one.

[warrior]

I just did my struts and springs this past weekend and my steering wheel was all wobbly, it was crooked, I couldn't go faster than 110km (68mph) or my car would shake like a bitch!

Usually you'd think it's something severe, but all it needed was an alignment and wheel balancing. Now my car drives straight and it's smooth as butter!

As someone said before, don't over think.. tackle one thing at a time starting with the cheapest solution first. That's the smartest way to trouble shoot any problem.