Rear end "twisting" under acceleration *SOLVED*

[Eurostang]

All,

When accelerating and the car is making torque about 3k upwards the back end feels like it's twisting and the car wants to drive to the right....

When lifting back off the throttle you can feel the weight of the car shift back the other way, really disheartening when it just happened overtaking on the motorway this morning....

I've taken a quick look around but everything seems in order..anyone got any pointers about the sort of stuff I should be looking for?

Thanks in advance!

[Bug]

Had exactly the same thing with a 3 litre once.
When I unbolted the spring shackle the two halves of the spring fell apart.
Not saying yours is the same, but it does point to spring related issues.
The axle is being allowed to twist one end forward, thus steering the car from the back.
Give everything on the rear suspension a thorough check over..................... then check it again!!!!

[snizeldelabmx]

Same thing happened to me in my 2.0

I fitted a lowering kit, and somehow the washers fell of, and my axle twisted too.

I agree with BUG. Its a problem in the union between axle and leafsprings.

[Mc Tool]

and somehow the washers fell of,

There's a whole nother thread there what the hell happened ?
Did you hear a mental patient raped one of the laundry staff and escaped the institution ...... headline reads " Nut screws washer and bolts "

[snizeldelabmx]

well... english isnt my first language, so see how I explain this.

The lowering kit I bought, the blocks, they have a small cilindre at the top that goes in the hole of the axle, but they come with a cone shape washer that goes over the cilindric thing and it is suposed to all fitt ok with the real axle.

some how one of those cone washers or what ever they ar called slipped out and I had that movement

[Eurostang]

Thank you for the replies! I've jacked the car up and thrown stands on the frame; going to dismantle the U bolts and post findings!

[3 Litre Power]

Same thing happened to me with my 3.0 due to a loose connection between the leaf springs and axle right around 3000 rpm which is when a 3 Litre reaches peak torque the car started twisting due to all the torque it recieves ' so check for that and inspect your whole rear end THOROUGHLY

[Eurostang]

Same thing happened to me with my 3.0 due to a loose connection between the leaf springs and axle right around 3000 rpm which is when a 3 Litre reaches peak torque the car started twisting due to all the torque it recieves ' so check for that and inspect your whole rear end THOROUGHLY

Quick update on this;

I've removed the old and already pretty corroded Grayston lowering kit U Bolts (they came off pretty easy..) and replaced them with some high-tensile zinc plated jobbies and torqued them up to the recommend spec as per the Haynes.

I didn't get chance to take her out for a test as it got dark. Will post findings.

[3 Litre Power]

Great

[Eurostang]

Spot on guys; replacing the rear u-bolts and tightening them right up solved the problem straight away.

I'm going to double nut the threads in an attempt to reduce the chance of them loosening up again.

Thank you.

[Major_Tom]

This is how every Q+A should work. Good advice, good communication and the resolution is explained.

[jimmyted]

Agree Tom, a happy ending

Before you double nut it, I'd probably give it 100 miles or so, then re-torque em, just to give everything chance to settle.

[Eurostang]

Agree Tom, a happy ending

Before you double nut it, I'd probably give it 100 miles or so, then re-torque em, just to give everything chance to settle.

That's a good idea; I'll hold off till the weekend!

[3 Litre Power]

glad to help out

[Bug]

Yup, good to know we pointed you the right way