[s-cars] Vague handling

[Mark Turczyn]

List-

Finally drove my S6 Avant (85K miles) after spending all spring and 
summer driving my old 356 convertible and the Avant felt like it was 
slightly wondering down the road.

It almost feels like the rear is toeing out over bumps.  It does 
tramline a bit and has a bit of bump steer ever since I installed the 
ABT kit in '98 but I have driven it this way for years and it never 
felt vague like this.


The first thing I checked was play in the steering rack and felt none 
but still tightened it up a tad.  No cracks in the doubler bracket- 
front end felt tight when I jacked it up and pulled in all directions 
on the wheels.  I checked the torque on the front subframe bolts and 
the tie rods are tight and are only two years old.  No obvious cracks 
in any of the bushings.

The rear end checked out just as tight.  I had replaced the link rods 
two years ago.


I know a few listers say they found bad bushings in their front ends. 
Most said they had vibration that clued them in.  My car just feels 
very vague almost like steering play.  It felt worse when I towed my 
bike to a shop for a dyno run.  Not sure it was because the rear end 
was under more load or because the front end was now a bit higher 
then the back end.  I got in a few troughs at a light and I almost 
tramlined into the next lane.

Anyone else ever experience this or am I just coming out of an 
ancient old sports car into a comparatively large vehicle.

all thoughts are welcome---Thanks
-- 
Mark Turczyn