Handling - Swaying at highway speeds.

Just returned from my first road trip with the Legacy. About 600 miles of smooth asphalt highway driving about 75-80MPH.

Throughout much of the trip I noticed that the car tended to sway or wobble on the open highway. It felt like it wanted to pull to one side of the lane and then back to the other, like the car was being buffeted a bit by crosswinds.

My previous 2 cars have been '06 and '08 Saab 9-3's which were steady as an arrow at highway speeds. The faster you pushed them the more stable they felt. Unfortunately the swaying on the Legacy reminded me more of my 2002 Pontiac Aztek at times.

I reviewed another thread on this forum related to steering wheel vibration or "shimmy" at highway speeds where it was mentioned that SOA is working on a fix for a known problem with the steering. However, I'm not sure if what I am noticing is the same issue as I did not detect any shake in the steering wheel at all.

So, I am wondering if others are also picking up a side to side sensation at highway speeds, and if I should have it looked at by the dealer, or just learn to live with it and leave it go?

The symptoms don't sound right. You drove 600 miles. That's enough mile to know it's not right. Better to report it to the dealer and have a record of it.

I have an LGT with a shimmy when driving > 65. It's a vibration that driver and passenger can feel. It's constant, vibrating about 5-8 times per second. Even with the shimmy/vibration, the LGT is well balanced and never sways or wobbles, no side-to-side sensation. No issues at higher speeds. The alignment is great; the car heads straight with no correction needed.

It's called tramlining and it is the tires. Mine does it too. It was worse when the tires were brand new and it has gotten better as they have worn some. It still tends to do it on grooved pavement but only in certain situations now. I have had other cars do it in the past and it has always been due to the tires. There isn't really anything you can do about it other than replace the tires.

Originally Posted by 5thgen

there isn't really anything you can do about it other than replace the tires.

that stinks

Yes it does stink, it is disappointing. It feels unsteady at times, like there's a gyroscope in the car pulling it slowly side to side. Even my passengers noticed it.

the tires come with a separate warranty. perhaps you can get a replacement set or voucher.

We travelled on 200 miles of flat / pristine highway in Ontario. Our roads in Michigan are 3rd world in comparison. So I was surprised when I noticed it throughout the trip. After 4 hours on the highway I feel like I just got off a boat.

I read an interesting article about tramlining at http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=47
maybe an alignment with camber or toe adjustment would be helpful too?

I'd definitely have your alignment checked

Originally Posted by Rutchard

I'd definitely have your alignment checked

This should be common sense.

Originally Posted by BobGee

This should be common sense.

You'd be surprised.

I realize it could be the alignment. But the car only had 1000 miles on it before the trip. That would be sad if it was delivered out of alignment.

It happens.

I constantly take my hands off the wheel just to see how well it tracks. I don't have a problem.

Alignment affecting this is a lot more possible than the tires.

Mine does it too!! I thought/still think its the shear size of the thing side on, its like a sail compared to my old MY07 SpecB model..its very very sensitive to cross winds on our freeways here, pisses me off, especially when a large Semi (Tractor trailer) is coming the other way...not happy

I'm guessing that what you were experiencing was totally due to wind. My car did feel a tad unsteady with the OEM tires and got much better with new tires, however, cross-winds toss my car all over the lane. Overall this car drives very nicely, but it is by far the worst car I've ever driven in windy conditions.

It was not all that windy the days we traveled. It feels like the car subtly pulsates or is drawn from side to side, feels like a gyroscope pulling and then resisting slightly when you make a steering correction.