Car rotates/drifts when accelerating in a straight line

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Dec 8, 2013 | 07:27 PM
  #1  
Hey guys,

This is really weird, I've never experienced it happen in a car before.

So right when it started to get cold and a little bit of ice was on the roads this started happening. It happens on pavement or ice, worse on ice obviously. If i'm moving along at 50mph and give it a bit of gas it starts to rotate/drift. Like one tire loses traction and the car keeps pulling in that direction. VDC kicks in but usually too late, and does nothing.

Any ideas of what might be wrong? When I mean lightly hitting the throttle I mean lightly, I'm not even pushing the pedal half in, max 1/4.

I'm running dedicated winter tires rice now (Xice2's) too. Car is an 04 G35 Coupe 6MT
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Dec 8, 2013 | 08:22 PM
  #2  
are the tires the same on both sides? one tire is not more worn than the other? all your tires are properly inflated? your alignment is good?
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Dec 8, 2013 | 08:24 PM
  #3  
Quote: are the tires the same on both sides? one tire is not more worn than the other? all your tires are properly inflated? your alignment is good?
Yep the tires are identical, the wear should be even. Properly inflated yep

not sure about alignment, Could that be causing it? Should I get it aligned? Steering wheel doesnt pull and the car drives true when I take my hands off the steering wheel.
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Dec 8, 2013 | 10:51 PM
  #4  
Toe being way out can cause this problem, especially when changing lanes the car will feel real loose.
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Dec 8, 2013 | 11:01 PM
  #5  
Quote: Toe being way out can cause this problem, especially when changing lanes the car will feel real loose.
I wanted to make sure that could actually be causing it before getting it balanced. Sucks since I was planning on getting coilovers in the spring but this is actually dangerous right now with the winter here. I'm gonna get it aligned and see what happens.

Thanks guys
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Dec 8, 2013 | 11:06 PM
  #6  
Hopefully it will help, the shop should look at the suspension and let you know of any worn suspension components before completing alignment
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Dec 8, 2013 | 11:07 PM
  #7  
Thanks a lot, appreciate your help
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Dec 8, 2013 | 11:10 PM
  #8  
No problem bro. Best of luck and be careful
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Dec 9, 2013 | 09:53 AM
  #9  
same thing happens to me.. i have a new coilover set and radius and camber arms. had it aligned well and toe was left in spec... feels like something is loose while im driving but i did a visual check with the rear off the ground and nothing is loose
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Dec 9, 2013 | 10:01 AM
  #10  
Several things can do this. Alignment first, LSD being bad, worst case, is that the car has been wrecked and is "crab walking". I have seen this a lot, the car is hit, fixed and put back on the road, but the "frame" is bent and the *** end is two inches to the left or right of the front wheel track depending on which side it was hit on.

Could be any/all of the above.
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Dec 9, 2013 | 10:57 AM
  #11  
Most likely a toe issue I can't tell you how many times it's happen to me.
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Dec 14, 2013 | 12:42 PM
  #12  
I've never recommended this but go to Firestone or another shop that offers lifetime alignment, just don't let it be know your coilovers were installed. Since tires are same size and pressure and you don't have a caliper hanging up chances are good it's an alignment issue!
Gary
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Dec 14, 2013 | 04:20 PM
  #13  
Quote: Several things can do this. Alignment first, LSD being bad, worst case, is that the car has been wrecked and is "crab walking". I have seen this a lot, the car is hit, fixed and put back on the road, but the "frame" is bent and the *** end is two inches to the left or right of the front wheel track depending on which side it was hit on.

Could be any/all of the above.
Is there a way to check the LSD and/or if the 3rd case could be an issue? When I bought the car I carproofed it and there were no accidents, but there was a $0 accident claim. I thought it was nothing so bought it, heres the carproof link:
http://reports.carproof.com/main?id=...PRS%2fZw%3d%3d
Could that be a massive writeoff accident?
Quote: Most likely a toe issue I can't tell you how many times it's happen to me.
Quote: I've never recommended this but go to Firestone or another shop that offers lifetime alignment, just don't let it be know your coilovers were installed. Since tires are same size and pressure and you don't have a caliper hanging up chances are good it's an alignment issue!
Gary
Still don't have coilovers, planning on getting them this summer. I still have exams so haven't had time to get it aligned yet, planning on doing it next week when im done finals.

Unforunately we don't have lifetime alignment in canada afaik .

Am I going to have to get it realigned again in the spring when I install the coilovers? I'm planning to do a pretty agreessive drop (1.5-2")

Edit*
And to confirm, rear toe is adjustable with factory susp parts right?
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Dec 16, 2013 | 07:00 PM
  #14  
Quote: Hey guys,

This is really weird, I've never experienced it happen in a car before.

So right when it started to get cold and a little bit of ice was on the roads this started happening. It happens on pavement or ice, worse on ice obviously. If i'm moving along at 50mph and give it a bit of gas it starts to rotate/drift. Like one tire loses traction and the car keeps pulling in that direction. VDC kicks in but usually too late, and does nothing.

Any ideas of what might be wrong? When I mean lightly hitting the throttle I mean lightly, I'm not even pushing the pedal half in, max 1/4.

I'm running dedicated winter tires rice now (Xice2's) too. Car is an 04 G35 Coupe 6MT
Just to rule out the obvious, have you owned/driven a rear wheel drive car during the winter in the past?
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Dec 16, 2013 | 07:01 PM
  #15  
Haven't owned one before but I have driven a couple as well as many rwd trucks in the winter.

I don't see how it could be normal behaviour to be honest, if it was a subtle drift/loss of traction i could see that, but its pretty pronounced. Gonna get it balance this week and see what happens
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