2005 Toyota Echo Bumpy, wobbly ride

Tiny
HORKOLOGY
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 TOYOTA ECHO
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
About a year and a half ago, I bought new tires for my Echo. After they were installed, I noticed that the car felt much bumpier and had a tendency to shift back and forth slightly, especially when driving on the freeway or on bumpy roads. I thought something was wrong with the tires, but the mechanics that installed them checked both them and the car itself and could find nothing wrong. Their reasoning was that the tires didn't offer as smooth as a ride as my old tires did, but I knew it was more than that.

Since then, I've had the tires replaced (having gone back to Goodyear, the same tires that were on it to begin with), and I've had the shocks and struts replaced, but the problem persists. Sometimes it's so bad that it makes my leg ache and go numb. Could they have somehow damaged the car in some way when replacing the tires the first time, or am I just going crazy? Could it be a problem with the springs (and are the springs separate from the struts and would therefore not have been replaced along with the struts)?
Monday, February 8th, 2010 AT 4:54 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
So with the original tires the problem persists? If thestruts have been repalced, the springs are most likely original still. What struts were installed? Depending on the dampening rate of the strut, the car will ride rougher but handle better.I seriously doubt the original shop had anything to do with the ride of your vehicle, some tires have higher recommended pressure than others ( 44 or 51 vs. 35) which can make it ride a little rougher, but they get better mileage.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 AT 6:59 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links