Car doesn't feel right

Tesla

Tesla

Tesla

Soldato
Joined
19 Jan 2003
Posts
17,601
Location
Bristol, UK
Hello there,

I have been driving a lot of A roads today and it has reinforced my thinking that something is perhaps amiss with my car.

As many of you already know it's a 2.0 Mondeo Mk2 Ghia Estate. Manual. Petrol.

It's relatively high miles, just under 130k but in all-round excellent condition.

I will try to describe as best I can the sensation I am feeling when driving:

The car doesn't feel planted to the road, it feels like it will oversteer on corners, despite not being on or near the point of losing grip.

I am feeling every defect in the road, small tarmac holes, little bumps. I seem to feel everything.

The steering is not vibrating at any speed or under braking.

I had 4 new tyres (Goodyear Hydragrips) and 4 wheel laser alignment a few months ago. It was driving real nice after this.

Perhaps it's just worn out suspension components but it has seemed to of come on suddenly and not over a long time.

So, any ideas?
 
Possible, I havn't changed them on this one and they look a bit rusty so I may get a garage to do it this time round.

I don't know if that would make a huge difference with feeling bumps and stuff in the road though?

I am going to check my tyre pressures later tonight when the tyres have cooled.
 
While you're at it, check the mountings for both anti-roll bars.

If they're even a little bit loose, they'll make the car feel a bit wallowy (new word there :p) and uncertain.
 
I'd get someone who hasn't driven it before to drive it just in case it is in your imagination. I'm sure everyone has thought to themselves "hmm my pc feels slower today", "i'm sure my car used to be faster than this", "what was that clunk?", etc.

I'm probably not explaining very well, it's been a long day. Perhaps someone knows what I mean.

When I had my 2.0l Mondeo, replacing the front wishbones made a huge difference to the handling.
 
Mine is doing the same when cornering hard and the weight transfers around. Very unsettling when the rear of the car tries to come round.

Narrowed it down to worn rear anti roll bar drop links (upper and lower) on both sides. When I go under the car, I can actually grab the arb and move it about.

The cars booked in for next Saturday to renew the n/s/f and o/s/f lower arm inner and outer bushes plus both rear ARB link upper and lower bushes (all replaced with Superflex) Total = £205.41 :(

Neil.
 
-Neil- said:
The cars booked in for next Saturday to renew the n/s/f and o/s/f lower arm inner and outer bushes plus both rear ARB link upper and lower bushes (all replaced with Superflex) Total = £205.41 :(
Click to expand...

Supaflex are a right PITA to fit! I have some fitted to my front ARB drop links aswell as the rear shock mount on the lower arm.

Trying to press those suckers in was the worst experience of my life :(

I'm going to do the rest of the car with Powerflex! They come in 2 parts and simply mate together from either side. Much much easier.
 
agw_01 said:
Supaflex are a right PITA to fit! I have some fitted to my front ARB drop links aswell as the rear shock mount on the lower arm.

Trying to press those suckers in was the worst experience of my life :(

I'm going to do the rest of the car with Powerflex! They come in 2 parts and simply mate together from either side. Much much easier.
Click to expand...
Good thing I'm not doing them then :D

Neil.
 
Thanks guys, I will get under the car and jiggle the ARB and drop links about.

I just pumped the tyres back up to 32psi (from 30psi). Unsure if 2psi would give a noticable difference?

I am considering "upgrading" to a Mk3 Ghia X so may not bother with this slight issue, just waiting to see how the new mondeo effects the used Mk3 market. Hopefully it will take a big hit.
 
hi,with arb links on the mondeo especially with the figure of eight type links you will normally feel a slight wollow to the car when worn but this is not a dead cert.there are several other bushes of note and also the rear trailing arms (have seen these bent ,even slightly causes an unsettled drive)

subframe bushes?
leaky struts?
or just plane old rubbish roads causing the geometry to fall out of spec.there are quite afew issues on the mondeo but try the basic geometry first.

any issues pm me..neil(ford master tech :p )
 
when did you last have the tracking and alignment done? Had mine done when my car didnt feel too great and it sorted it :)

Tom.
 
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