Is this normal or what? I live in Florida and for the past few days temps are not way normal here. Within these days i have notice the car completely loose on the front end. The car was running in perfect condition. Car is aligned to "Specs" balanced wheels but everything else is ok. Wil this be the weather or my imagination?

Thanks

 

I think you're going crazy...

Up in MA, I've never noticed much difference with the cold weather. If anything, it is probably a tighter ride. Just let it warm up and it should drive relatively the same. Probably is something else?

 

I don't think you're crazy. Florida has been getting below-freezing temps over the last few weeks. It's entirely possible that you're feeling slight changes in how your tires respond to the pavement, particularly since your normal, year-round temps are typically above freezing.

I wouldn't be too concerned about it, unless you still feel this way after things warm up.

 

Could be something else other than weather, and just coincidence that you are feeling it these past frigid days. I live in the Tampa Bay area (inland where temperatures are usually lower than that of the coast) and haven't felt any difference with my car.

 

Kidding on the crazy part. Good point about the tires. Temperature does affect tire pressure. Have you looked at that Lontar? Lower temps will lead to lower tire pressure. Could be a looser feel on the car.

 

Could possibly be this.....

But the way Lontar is describing is, it sounds like its a big difference.

Keep in mind that warm makes things expand, and cold makes things contract. There may be some worn bushings or other parts that are tight and effective in the warm weather, but when they shrink with the cold weather, they may become a little loose.

Also, cold weather makes most materials more brittle. So its also possible that you had a part that was worn, but still worked ok in the warm weather when it was more durable. But when they got a bit more brittle with the cold weather, it didnt hold up to the forces and broke.

I would take a look under the car and inpect all the suspension/steering/wheel parts and make sure everything looks ok.

 

Tire pressure because of the cold... good call.

Bushings that are on the edge acceptable, then noticeably different becase of the cold... also good call. There are a lot of fitted parts on the front end (ball joints, tie-rod ends, sway-bar end-links, etc.) You may very well be sensitive to some change there because of the unfamiliar, freezing temperatures.

Sounds like you're very attuned to the way your car feels... which can be a curse when all you want to do is drive to work and back.

 

Thanks for all the responses... I will definetly check everything again, I know the car is old but it has never feel this way. I guess it is time to replace all those bushings under the car.. LCA bushings etc... I think am going crazy with this car... thanks again

 

my car felt like that too and it was the bushings