If the rear end moves sideways (and it's not just the tire sidewalls
flexing), you need to find what's broke in the rear suspension and
replace it. My current TR3A broke both rear main leaves through the
center bolt soon after I got it, which could cause results like you
describe. Also check the rubber bushings and wheels/bearings (original
steel wheels sometimes crack between the lug holes).
Same goes for the front, except I'd check the wheel bearings first. Get
someone to help by pushing the car sideways, while you watch to see
where the motion is. Except for sidewall flex, there should be almost
no movement side-to-side.
Randall
59 TR3A
Fergie wrote:
>
> Please help.
>
> I'm puzzled about the way my car is handling (or not!) and thought I'd
> see if any of you have any suggestions. It's a TR3A, but this is a
> generic question. Whenever I hit any kind of rough or irregular
> pavement, either driving around town or at highway speeds, the car
> bounces all over the road. Kind of a side to side bounce. As an
> experiment, I squatted down next to the rear wheel and push/pulled the
> car sideways. Set up an oscillating movement that took a couple of
> seconds to stop! It reminded me a lot of Galloping Gertie (the bridge
> we've all seen footage of that collapsed in a light breeze).
>
> So far, I've installed upper wishbone bushes and Spax adjustables in the
> front (I have the lower wishbone bushes, but haven't yet installed
> them). In the rear, I've replaced the 8 rubber bushes at the rear of the
> springs (haven't done the front silentblocs yet) and checked the shock
> fluid level in the lever shocks. One was full, the other only slightly
> down. When I look under the car while someone else shakes it, I see
> nothing that looks unusual - other than LOTS of movement.
>
> Pushing up and down on each corner results in no excess movement, so I
> would assume the shocks are okay (the front ones BETTER be-they're
> new!!). What would cause this drastic amount of side to side wobble? Do
> I need new springs? If so, front, rear, both? Any way to tell?
>
> Bud Rolofson followed me to Portland and said the movement was quite
> obvious every time I hit any kind of bump in the road. Most
> disconcerting. Needless to say, I did not participate in the autocross!
> 8^)
>
> Any suggestions would be most welcome. Thank you all very much.
>
> --
> Michael Ferguson
> 1959 TR3A TS53990L
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