My Legacy drives somehow inexact since a few days. It's a bit hard to explain, but it feels like the tail has it's own life Especially if load changes happen, the car is not strict on the road but totters fairly heavy. It feels very unsafe to drive more than 80 km/h (and even this feels not good).

 

It's a bit like the rear wheels (or at least on of them) roam back and forth. I made a quick check today with my brother and the dampers + springs seem to be OK. Of course we had a look at the axles etc. but thanks to the heavy snow fall of the last days, there wasn't anything visible.

 

We will take the car on a service lift in the next days to examine that further, but has anyone an idea at what to look? It seems to be related to the rear wheels, but that's only a feeling...

i had this exact problem on our 2002 OBW recently.

here's my recent thread about it:

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=137100&highlight=sway

 

the rear just walked, like it would pull instantaneously to the side, then starts oscillating back and forth until you slow down and it stops. happens mostly above 50 mph, not really noticeable at lower speeds.

not comfortable at all - most folks would have freaked out i believe, completely going out of control - this was not like a little bit or a little pulling, or a noise or minor thing - this was a big deal.

 

one other symptom was the car sagged significantly on the drivers side under a lot of weight. i had about 1,500+ pounds of people and gear in the car and the drivers side was notably not right.

 

i had already installed new struts in the rear so i went back in and installed new springs as well. there was nothing noticeably wrong with the springs but apparently the one side was not capable of holding up the weight of the vehicle.

 

i have since installed new rear springs and tires and been driving it every day. i haven't taken it on the interstate yet...completely forgot, but will soon, hopefully on the way home from work if i don't keep forgetting. but i have gotten it up to 60 and 70 mph on short stretches and no re-occurrence yet.

Take a look at the bushings where the rear trailing arms mount to the body by the rear doors. The links come forward from the wheel hub and attach to the underside of the body. It's really common for the bushings to go out. That causes the rear toe alignment to wander all over the place and the back of the car steers itself.

Take a look at the bushings where the rear trailing arms mount to the body by the rear doors. The links come forward from the wheel hub and attach to the underside of the body. It's really common for the bushings to go out. That causes the rear toe alignment to wander all over the place and the back of the car steers itself.

great thanks...is that usually obvious, have to check with car in the air? first i've heard of this.

Checked it and yes, it's the trailing arm or better the bushings are worn out.

 

@grossgary: You can check it with the wheels in the air and levering with something against the trailing arm near those bushings. The trailing arm has to have some clearance, but not too much. It's pretty obvious then. The guy at the workshop showed and explained it...

 

Has anyone an idea how to change those bushings? I mean it would be OK to change the whole trailing arm, but the bushing of the rear one is attached to the wheel hub and it look like big trouble to exchange this...

 

And I've searched a bit on German ebay and webshops but didn't find a part. So I guess I have to deal with Subaru Germany and therefore this wouldn't be cheap... Has anyone a part number or a shop in the U.S. where to get those?

My Legacy drives somehow inexact since a few days. It's a bit hard to explain, but it feels like the tail has it's own life Especially if load changes happen, the car is not strict on the road but totters fairly heavy. It feels very unsafe to drive more than 80 km/h (and even this feels not good).

 

It's a bit like the rear wheels (or at least on of them) roam back and forth.

 

Hey! When did you drive my car?