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Mustang feels floaty at high speeds

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  #1  
Old 07-05-2010 | 03:07 PM
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Default Mustang feels floaty at high speeds

The other day I decided to see what my mustang could do and I got up to about 80 and my car felt floaty and was unstable then I took it up to 115 and it felt like it was going all over the road and felt like it was going to flip. I had traction control off. What can I do to fix this?

My car is a 2006 mustang v6 pony package automatic with 66,000 miles. It's completely stock. My tires are the pirelli pzero 235/55-17.
 
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Old 07-05-2010 | 04:03 PM
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Keep it at or below the speed limit for starters haha. If there is nothing 'wrong' with the car, such as a out of balanced wheel, there are several things one could do. Springs to lower the car, shocks and struts, replace soft rubber bushings, better tires, new front bumper to reduce lift.

I've noticed my steering get light at speeds around 130+ (on a race course), but never experienced any shaking, wandering, or serious issues. One driving instructor said I may have a rear wheel out of balance once, but turns out I didn't.
 
  #3  
Old 07-05-2010 | 04:21 PM
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What your experiencing is WIND!

And to fix it, you have to do suspension work.

But who drives 115 all the time in a v6?

It takes a downhill slope for me to hit 115, or a really long straight.
 
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Old 07-05-2010 | 04:23 PM
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I'm also experiencing shaking of the wheel when accelerating and when I'm above 45. Could this have something to do with it?
 
  #5  
Old 07-05-2010 | 08:58 PM
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My car shakes like a MJ Fox, between 50-65 mph. Steering wheel shakes pretty gnarley as well. Ive heard it could be quite a few things. Im just gonna take it to a shop, see what they think. I dunno how mechanically experience you are, but me.....yeah. Taking it to a mechanic. haha.
 
  #6  
Old 07-06-2010 | 01:23 PM
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My car does that too.. between 50 and 65... You can watch the seat move.

70 and above is smooth!!

My steering wheel shakes sometimes. And my car will stop shakin when i take a left curve.
 
  #7  
Old 07-06-2010 | 01:51 PM
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remove the wings...
 
  #8  
Old 07-06-2010 | 04:15 PM
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I think you may want to check out your tires. how worn are they?
 
  #9  
Old 07-06-2010 | 04:42 PM
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90% tread left
 
  #10  
Old 07-06-2010 | 05:33 PM
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Haha your name is the same as my english teachers..who i tried to persuade to buy a mustang...Anyways, yeah, try getting your tires rebalanced at a good shop, maybe the car needs re-aligned as well. And yeah stock suspension isnt great, id say go aftermarket springs and shocks/struts.
 
  #11  
Old 07-06-2010 | 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Deathdiesel
Haha your name is the same as my english teachers..who i tried to persuade to buy a mustang...Anyways, yeah, try getting your tires rebalanced at a good shop, maybe the car needs re-aligned as well. And yeah stock suspension isnt great, id say go aftermarket springs and shocks/struts.
I was looking at the edelbrock touring suspension package. Would this solve any of my problems?
 
  #12  
Old 07-06-2010 | 09:38 PM
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Id try maximum motorsports, ive heard nothing but the best from them and i know they make very good products. If you contact them supposedly theyll help you decide what specifically you need and etc.
 
  #13  
Old 07-07-2010 | 07:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Deathdiesel
Id try maximum motorsports, ive heard nothing but the best from them and i know they make very good products. If you contact them supposedly theyll help you decide what specifically you need and etc.
Truth. I've called them before and told them to send me what rear springs they think I need. Didn't know what I was getting till a day later, it was perfect still.
 
  #14  
Old 07-07-2010 | 07:59 AM
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The steering wheel shake sounds like you need your tires rotated and ballanced

I had the exact same thing on my 98 v6 and thats what I did and it was a night and day difference
 
  #15  
Old 07-07-2010 | 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Lazerred6
The steering wheel shake sounds like you need your tires rotated and ballanced

I had the exact same thing on my 98 v6 and thats what I did and it was a night and day difference
Thank you for that advice. I'll go get my tires rotated and balanced today
 
  #16  
Old 07-07-2010 | 09:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Deathdiesel
Id try maximum motorsports, ive heard nothing but the best from them and i know they make very good products. If you contact them supposedly theyll help you decide what specifically you need and etc.
Would this help me lose the floaty unstable feeling I'm having?
 
  #17  
Old 07-07-2010 | 09:58 AM
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I imagine it would, I upgraded just my springs and had a noticable difference through all speeds on ride performance and quality. A MM grip box is the best, but can be expensive however it will make your car ride like shes on rails. It also would help to know what you do with your car, whether you wanna take it to the track, or just want a really nice smooth ride for the street as well as some stability. Basically just go to the website, and look around at what fits your price range.

http://www.maximummotorsports.com/store/
 
  #18  
Old 07-07-2010 | 11:38 AM
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Ok so I was reading somewhere about a protective coating on tires. Could this be my problem or do pirellis even have a protective coating on the tires? Would this cause this feeling at high speed only?
 
  #19  
Old 07-07-2010 | 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by garner1
Ok so I was reading somewhere about a protective coating on tires. Could this be my problem or do pirellis even have a protective coating on the tires? Would this cause this feeling at high speed only?

no.
 
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