REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

inv4zn · 12-13-2012, 02:39 PM

Recently I was driving up from Bellingham, and on the last stretch of the I5 before Peace Arch, car was very unstable, especially in the rear - almost like it had no traction and was close to fishtailing...felt like driving on Ice.

Car is an '07 Accord, just put winter tires on 3 weeks ago, at Discount Tire.
I was going maybe 100 when it started happening, slowed down to about 70 and it was much more manageable. Was raining so road was wet/slick.

Here's the strange thing. I've driven up that highway many times before and it's never happened before. So I'd suspect the new tires (balancing maybe), but this hasn't happened anywhere in Vancouver. I came home that night and drove at 100~120 all the way on the highway home and car was very stable.

It could just have been the road, but I've never experienced it before.

Tires are properly inflated, no visible suspension damage.

Anybody have any experience with this? Could it be alignment? I don't want to spend $100 rebalancing tires if i don't have to either.

TIA

snails · 12-13-2012, 02:44 PM

hmmm, are u used to a lower profile tire? snow tires have a large soft sidewall so maybe you just felt roll in the side wall?

inv4zn · 12-13-2012, 03:08 PM

Is it to the point of feeling unsafe though?

My summers are low profile, yeah, but i've never had this before lol

N8 · 12-13-2012, 04:41 PM

Had this on my type r, was pretty unnerving - in the rain in a constant turn (wasn't doing any throttle lift or any abrupt steering) the back end would skip out. It felt to be about a foot, and a small quick counter steer would bring it back. Turned out to be the lower control arm bushing which was completely worn out and causing all sorts of spaghetti handling on the front end, which in turn caused weird under/oversteer issues that were magnified in the rain. Get a shop to check your suspension bushings and suspension in general..

Puck Luck · 12-13-2012, 04:56 PM

unless the car was in an accident, and something was bent or damaged, i can't see anything on the suspension wearing or worn out. Car's only 5 years old.
My thoughts are its the road surface. I-5 is concrete slabs for road surface, not the nicest to drive on. And I don't think they crown the highways down there. Up here, the roads are asphalt and crowned for water to run off.

inv4zn · 12-13-2012, 09:20 PM

The car drives fine at all conditions and all road surfaces at all speeds here...

Maybe that is what it is. I didn't know the I5 was concrete lol

Still, I'll get my guy to check the suspension next time I'm in.

Thanks everyone!

Smallermouse · 12-13-2012, 09:28 PM

Theres nothing wrong with your car. Cause my rear broke loose while going 100km on I5 to Bellingham. I corrected it but the car behind me didn't and probly totaled it on the guard rails. I blame the concrete slabs

bcrdukes · 12-13-2012, 09:30 PM

If in doubt, get your suspension checked out when you get a chance. If the car is 5 years old, some parts/components may need to be replaced anyway (i.e. bushings, tie rods, shocks, etc.) It's an Accord so you should be fine, but always better safe than sorry.

Interstate 5 is pretty crappy to drive on.

Akinari · 12-14-2012, 01:50 AM

Don't worry, I live in White Rock and frequently cross the border for gas and groceries. Doesn't matter if I'm driving the BMW (2011 E90 less than 15,000kms) or the Element (2004 225,000kms), your rear will feel like it's moving side to side. It's just how the road is designed in that stretch right before the Peace Arch I'm guessing, to wake up drivers perhaps?

However, it's much more noticeable in the Element, since its shocks really need replacing and the bushing are probably equally worn. Been too lazy to be bothered with replacing them myself (aside from the fact that I don't have the tools nor the space) and I don't want to be charged an arm and a leg for bushing and shock replacements.