Dancing solara?

by **biggee72** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 4:07 pm

So it was sorta nice out this weekend so it was oil change time, etc. I took the milan out and did what I had to do. Came back and got the solara (which I haven't driven in a while, it is still my wife's car) and realized..damn this thing is all over the road. I came home and asked her how long it's been like this and she told me it's always been that way and that if I read up on the net I'll see it's a big complaint on the car. I can't find anything. I know the brake pedal is clunky, the steering has no feel, and there's a ton of lag but nothing on the car being all over the road. Basically if I hit a rough part of the road the car is hard to control..thoughts?

by **gnegroni** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 5:03 pm

Wow, I know that the Lara is heavy, tall and doesn't handle like a BMW, but have no complaints. I do know that its tail happy. For a comfort car, it doesn't handle that bad (I have regular SE flavor).

Anybody else want to comment? Compare with previous generation or newer Solara and/or Camry?

by **fzzyrn** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:45 pm

i've got the SE sport V6, and with the stock springs i think it handles pretty well. With the trunk empty, it turns relatively tightly, and with the trunk full, i can actually break the tail loose on some really fast turns (90 degrees at say... 35 mph). I havent noticed "dancing" on bumps, though.

by **ToyoSolV6** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:02 pm

i have a 2000 se v6, and i can say it does handle pretty well but then on some rough roads and fairly high speeds (60-70 mph) it feels as if it sort of sways from the rear, not alot to the point that the car is actually dancing on the freeway but i can feel it does sway a little bit.

by **Sparky5e** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:48 pm

This may seem like a dumb question, but have you checked the tire pressures?

Mine gets real squirrelly if the tire pressures aren't balanced. It happened once and was real bad. I thought the steering was going out because I couldn't hold a straight line at all. Even with the pressure warning system not going off the handling was effected significantly by the right front being 3psi low.

I don't check them often, but if it drifts at all the tires get topped off. I need to check them again as it's really riding hard. I filled them at -12deg and the pressure might have climbed a little. It is amazing how tempera"mental" these are. My jeep could be 8psi low and would still ride the same. I wonder if it has to do with the smaller sidewall and wider tire?

by **ToyoSolV6** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:28 pm

^yeah your right man! tire pressure does have a lot to do with it. if the left side is 35 and the right side is 32, then the car will begin to pull on to the right and makes it harder to control.

by **philosophicaljt** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 6:35 am

being out of alignment can do that. I'd say take it to a full service tire shop and have them align it and check tire pressures. If that doesn't fix it, you know it's not something basic.

by **Chinky420** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:28 am

for me, i have a 99 sle, stock suspension.

i don't really notice the lara being all over the road, but i don't know if that's due to my driving style or what.

there is a very very slight lag between jerking the wheel and getting the car to respond, but i figured that was due to the extra weight on this car (my previous car was a 4cyl mazda 626). this was always remedied by just checking early, and changing the timing of my steer.

regarding moderate-to-fast speeds over bumps, yeah, the steering goes a little bit unresponsive. i.e. if i'm hitting a bumpy patch and i want to steer towards center, i have to hold on pretty tightly to keep her steering towards center, and it almost feels like the car is out of my control (almost, not quite).

on other notes, i have two 12" subs in the back, which probably helps with the weight distribution front-to-back, and probably keeps her a little bit more stable.

if it's not tire pressure or alignment/balancing, then i'd check out your suspension.

by **Sparky5e** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:12 am

I should clarify what I have experienced.

With a tire low my car will not hold a straight line and goes right and left but not straight when the wheel is held still. It drifts almost uncontrolably requiring constant steering adjustments. I am not proud to say I have driven drunk, but that's about what it feels like. My first reaction was an alignment issue also but filling the tires took care of it. Who knows my alignment may be boarderline and the pressure put it over the edge. I am well aware of wheel pull and this wasn't it.

by **gnegroni** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 9:12 am

Sparky5e wrote:I should clarify what I have experienced.

With a tire low my car will not hold a straight line and goes right and left but not straight when the wheel is held still. It drifts almost uncontrolably requiring constant steering adjustments. I am not proud to say I have driven drunk, but that's about what it feels like. My first reaction was an alignment issue also but filling the tires took care of it. Who knows my alignment may be boarderline and the pressure put it over the edge. I am well aware of wheel pull and this wasn't it.

That is definitely not normal. I know our cars have a bit of torque steer and/or pulls left, but my car feels ok compared to yours

by **campfire9** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:46 am

I have a 99 SLE with TRD sway bars top and bottom and have never experienced any problems that are being discussed here. I also check my tire pressure frequently and check for uneven wear of the tires. I also drive with both hands on the wheel because for me its more confortable. Is that what happens when a person gets old???

by **gnegroni** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:34 pm

campfire9 wrote:I have a 99 SLE with TRD sway bars top and bottom and have never experienced any problems that are being discussed here. I also check my tire pressure frequently and check for uneven wear of the tires. I also drive with both hands on the wheel because for me its more confortable. Is that what happens when a person gets old???

LOL....No! The 2-3 and 9-10 o'clock hand positioning is not only one of the best and most ergonomic, but also provide the best control over the vehicle.

I tend to use both hands most of the time, even though I drive stick.

by **biggee72** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:43 pm

I'll have to double check the tire pressure. I just got the oil changed and tires rotated. I noticed this on the way there and back so I'd imagine the place woulda checked the pressure but then again..who knows.

by **gnegroni** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 7:09 pm

You know, now that you mention you had tires rotated...if you have tires with imperfections, it might a bit of handling problems.

by **CosmicGrooves** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:28 pm

gnegroni wrote:You know, now that you mention you had tires rotated...if you have tires with imperfections, it might a bit of handling problems.

I would check that and your tire pressure.

I don't experience any dancing, but I am pretty sure I know what you're referring to.

Go test drive a Solara and see if it handles the same.

Dancing solara?

Dancing solara?

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