A vehicle that wanders in its lane on the interstate
At highway speed on I-44, a healthy vehicle tracks straight with very little input from the driver. A vehicle with worn suspension or steering parts does not. It drifts one way, then the other, and the driver makes a constant stream of small corrections to keep it in the lane.
Drivers often get used to it. The corrections become automatic, and the only sign is that a long drive feels more tiring than it should. Passengers sometimes notice first.
Wandering is different from a pull. A pull goes one way, consistently. A wander goes either way, and it usually gets worse in crosswinds, over grooved pavement, and when passing trucks.
What usually causes it
- Worn tie rod ends or ball joints, which let the wheel move slightly without the steering moving.
- Worn control arm bushings, which let the whole wheel assembly shift under load.
- Play in the steering system itself.
- Worn shocks or struts, which let the body move around more than it should.
- Tires that are mismatched, unevenly worn, or at the wrong pressure.
An alignment alone rarely cures wander if a part is worn, because the worn part lets the setting move as soon as the vehicle is driven. The parts come first, then the alignment.
What to tell the store
That it wanders rather than pulls, whether it is worse in wind or on grooved pavement, and whether the steering wheel has any free play before the vehicle responds. Check tire pressures before you come, since that is the free fix.
Car and light truck alignment follows the repair at the same address, and tire and wheel balancing is here for a shake rather than a wander. The national suspension repair page covers other signs of worn parts.
Other stores nearby
Joplin and Osage Beach also offer suspension repair.
About this store
The Springfield store runs nineteen services and is managed by Steve Richardson.
See the national suspension repair page for all 34 locations.