Handling Issues 1995 Eagle Talon TSI AWD

[endless_limits]

I have a 1995 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD and it is completely stock as far as suspension goes. The car has factory 16 inch wheels and has 205/55/16 for rubber.

My problem is that the car exhibits sudden and heavy oversteer under mildily to heavily slippery conditions (ex. slushy snow or ice covered roads). The conditions occur a relatively low speeds 60kph or less normally around mild to sharp turns. This also occurs with the throttle less then half open.WTF

The tires on the car are all seasons with 80-90% tread remaining.

I have no idea what the cause of this problem is. It could be partily due to undersized tires or AWD issues. I would appreciate any possible solutions with this problem.

 

[92AndAHalf]

How are your tires?

I find AWD's have some understeer like FWD, but of course you can get the back end to break out around the corner if you give it some gas. Icey conditions... Drive slow AWD definitely doesn't make you immune to bad weather.

 

[EclipseTrbo420A]

Yea you sure you dont mean understeer in the ice? The rear wheels will keep pushing the car forward while the front are just along for the ride sometime.

60 kph is like 37 mph and thats too quick on turns in bad weather!

 

[endless_limits]

It may seem too fast but the posted speed limit is that and that particular day it occured in front of me there was an impreza wagon just ahead of me that i was following on my way home from a little distance who was doing about 70kph or 44mph. This is why i am wondering about the oversteer issue I want to rule out the possibility that I may have AWD problems and just have poor tires.

 

[tr5900]

My 95 talon had steering problems simslar to yours.It would pull hard on the side that would hit a puddle.My problem turned out to be the lower control arms .

 

[endless_limits]

What was the problem with the lower control arms?
Was it bushing related?

This may be unrelated or it may also be part of my trouble but at very low speeds like parking lot maneuvers with the wheel cranked as far as it will go to either side the Talon turns like a bus and requires a lot of room to do a 180 degree turn. However when driving a normal speeds or at highway speeds it handles fine.

Any ideas would be helpful

 

[tr5900]

The problem i had was the ball joints which are part of the lower control arms

 

[TSG59_Steve]

Check your bushings, my buddy had some serious issues in his Accord; also in the snow. Had to drive 20-25mph under the speed limit... it sucked.

 

[2g enthusiast]

I have a 95 tsi and mine is terrible in the snow. I mean a light dusting and I can't go over 20mph. All it wants to do is go sideways. I only drove it in the snow when i had to cause my truck was down, but I thought for sure it should've handled better than that. Could mine be control arm related as well? I'm new to the dsm scene only had my talons slightly over a year. But if there is something I could do to improve handling I'd love to hear the advice as eventually I'd like to do some autocross and ice racing. It's kind of a big thing in my area.

 

[darknezz7]

I'd recommend anyone that doesn't know when they were last changed or have over 50k miles on it to change ALL the front control arms and sway bar links/bushings along with tie rods.

I had my lower balljoint fall out of its socket and the strut fork fell on the axle. Luckily it was in a parking lot, but imagine that happening on the road.

Bought a whole kit for like 300 that came with all 6 front control arms tie rods and bushings. Might not last a long time but its good for now, at least safe.

 

[2g enthusiast]

Thanks I'm putting mine in the air tomorrow to go through everything. I'm on a budget so I'll probably have to order a few parts at a time till I have everything and can swap it all at once. I don't want to swap good parts on with bad as it seems that would create more wear on the new parts.

 

[dharrison]

there are companies that sell the entire front suspension as a set ie uppers lowers inner and outer tie rod ends and sway bar links for pretty good price just have to search around for em. mine came with alot of nice factory replacement (moog) and it saved me money from buying separate

 

[Red2G_GST]

sounds like its your tires. If theyre not good they could ruin the awd drivetrain and tranny

feel the inside of your tires and see of they have any grooves. thatll tell you