Serious Handling Issues - Please help!

[nyjim]

Hi Everyone, I am new to the forum and this is my first post.

I Have a 2007 Mazda3 5-door with 26,000 miles and I am experiencing some pretty significant handling problems. About 8 months ago, I hit a huge pot hole in Upstate NY and blew out my left front tire. I replaced the tire and had the wheels balanced, but something still seemed to be a bit off. About four months later, I noticed a bubble on the side wall of the new tire, which obviously needed to be replaced again. Unfortunately, at this point, this is what I am experiencing:

-The car shakes at exactly 60 mph, not before or after, just at 60.

-I feel every bump in the road like crazy, and the steering wheel turns (while I'm holding on to it) almost every time I hit a rough patch of road.

-In order for the car to drive perfectly straight, the steering wheel needs to be turned very slightly to the left. I can tell by looking at the Mazda symbol on the center of the wheel.

-If I hit rough road at higher speeds the back feels like it kicks out, which makes the car feel very unstable.

Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I do not have very much faith in the dealer where I purchased the car because I had them check it out and they told me everything looks fine...

Thanks!
-Jim

 

[GoFast]

blown shock(s), out of alignment, bent rim, tire out of balance, etc...could be any of those or something else. Take it to a shop(not the dealer) and have it checked out.

 

[nyjim]

Thanks for the response, I'm worried that this is going to be a pretty costly repair. Do you think the car is safe to drive for the time being until I can get it looked at?

Thanks again!

 

[flash75]

Find a good alignment shop that does 4 wheel alignments and tell them what you are telling us. Look for a small business that doesn't sell tires and oil changes. You probably bent/damaged some parts when you hit the pot hole. Eyeballing for damage by an unskilled individual is very difficult.

Your description of the problem makes it sound like the car isn't safe to drive. You are correct, it could be expensive to repair but it may be more reasonable than you think.

And welcome to the forum.

Clifton

 

[tsunami]

sounds like a bent rim plus some possible damper issues or maybe endlink? does it go clunk when you go over bumps?

 

[nyjim]

Thanks for the responses. I haven't brought it in to a shop yet because I was away on vacation. Hopefully I can find a reputable place. No, there is no clunk sound when I go over bumps, I just really feel them and the wheel turns.

 

[skallen]

I had the same problem with my old car... An 02 Sentra SE-R Spec V... I hit a pothole going around 50km/h with 40 series rubber...Blew out right away...It turned out to be an alignment issue...However, I was never able to correct the "cock-eyed steering wheel" issue... Good Luck!!!

 

[spymac]

I am experiencing this problem you describe:

"-I feel every bump in the road like crazy, and the steering wheel turns (while I'm holding on to it) almost every time I hit a rough patch of road."

Also if i take a curved freeway onramp fast the steering and front wheels shake violently until I reduce throttle.

Look at your struts, compare the driver and passenger side. I found that my passenger side strut was leaking fluid and needed to be replaced. I dont remember hitting a pothole or anything. I think my problem was premature wear.

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

Yeah you broke something

Hi Everyone, I am new to the forum and this is my first post.

I Have a 2007 Mazda3 5-door with 26,000 miles and I am experiencing some pretty significant handling problems. About 8 months ago, I hit a huge pot hole in Upstate NY and blew out my left front tire. I replaced the tire and had the wheels balanced, but something still seemed to be a bit off. About four months later, I noticed a bubble on the side wall of the new tire, which obviously needed to be replaced again. Unfortunately, at this point, this is what I am experiencing:

-The car shakes at exactly 60 mph, not before or after, just at 60.

-I feel every bump in the road like crazy, and the steering wheel turns (while I'm holding on to it) almost every time I hit a rough patch of road.

-In order for the car to drive perfectly straight, the steering wheel needs to be turned very slightly to the left. I can tell by looking at the Mazda symbol on the center of the wheel.

-If I hit rough road at higher speeds the back feels like it kicks out, which makes the car feel very unstable.

Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I do not have very much faith in the dealer where I purchased the car because I had them check it out and they told me everything looks fine...

Thanks!
-Jim

I had the same issue with my 2001 Protege after hitting a huge pothole. I thought it needed to be aligned and the tech called me and said to call my insurance becasue I bent some suspension components. Also my nephew did some damage to his 3 and it turned out he tweaked the steering rack.

If the potholoe was big enough it probably did some major damage. The car is not safe to drive so you need to get it fixed.

 

[BMJ20]

im having the same problem....when i hit a rough patch of road the wheel tugs to one side....i dont really think its anything at all but im going to get it looked at soon