After having the car aligned while driving the wheels wobble badly

Tiny
RONAROLL
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 BMW 325I
  • 6 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 90,000 MILES
Just had an alignment. As I was almost home the wheels started to wobble badly. When I got home I had someone watch the wheels as I drove away from him. He said as I turned slightly right, the back wheels turned right also to the point the car was moving sideways. Called the company that did the alignment and the said the did to specs and didn't offer any explanation. The car can't safely be driven. Any ideas?
Monday, April 8th, 2019 AT 12:51 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,235 POSTS
About the only thing that would cause the rear tires to move at all would be if the rear suspension bushings are shot. If they are worn to the point they shift that much the alignment won't do anything. The other thing to check would be that the wheel lugs are tight. If those were not torqued properly and loosened up in motion it could cause some strange behavior.
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Monday, April 8th, 2019 AT 5:51 PM
Tiny
RONAROLL
  • MEMBER
  • 12 POSTS
Isn't there a computerized control of all wheels. We didn't take it in for an alignment because of this issue, this started after the alignment
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Tuesday, April 9th, 2019 AT 12:28 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,235 POSTS
The rear suspension is a simple trailing link system with no steering ability. Failed parts or loose lug nuts would be the only things that would cause the wheels to move in anything other than a straight line. The computer only monitors the rotational speed of the hub and tires, nothing else.
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Tuesday, April 9th, 2019 AT 2:45 AM

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