1990 2.3L mustang has steering problem? Im scared to drive like this!

'stang princess · 10-22-2007

Hi I have a 1990 2.3L and recently in the past two weeks the passenger side front tire has been giving me problems. I put fix a flat in the tire about a month ago, and it held for about two weeks before the tire started leaking again. Around this time I started hearing a weird noise coming from my tire somehwere along the lines of like when you drive your car over a bunch of small lines in the freeway or like when a tire has a bubble in it and slaps the road but very dull. Its pretty hard ofr me to describe. But when it does this noise I can feel it pulling slightly on the sterring wheel. About a week ago I had to put more fix a flat into the same tire (I'm a broke college student!) and now the sound is worse. I knoiw its not just the roads im driving on cause it does it eveyrtime i drive the car. Its not a contuniuos thing, but it does happen at least 3 or 4 times in a thirty min drive. I dont know whats wrong, or what to look at, and I am honeslty getting scared to drive the car like this. I swear I drive down the road wondering if my axle is gonna detach itself from my front end. Any suggestions on what I should do or look at would be so much appreciated, because I really am getting scared to drive this car.

chenmp · 10-22-2007

Hi, I would say that there is a good chance that you have put your tire out of balance with all that fix a flat in there. From what i know about that stuff is that its just temp to get you to a place were you can get it fixed with a plug and or a patch.

Younginstang · 10-22-2007

Ya, somthing like that happened to me before it could just be easier since you put fix a flat in it (just get a plug or replace the tire and get a balancement).

If used to have a problem where if you drove faster then 50 mph it sounded like the tire was bouncing the fix was to just replace the tie rods and get an alignment done.

b_chandler · 10-22-2007

The tire is separating. The original puncture that made it go flat broke a few steel belts when it went in. Driving on it has created an issue where the belts are bunching up. I'd imagine if you could jack the car up and spin the tire you'd see where it was out of round or deformed in some way.

Bottom line, you have to replace it. It could fail at a very bad time and you'd be out alot more than the cost of a tire.

'stang princess · 10-27-2007

So i had the tire taken in and the valve stem was the only thing wrong with it.it hasnt really made that sound again but just awhile ago i made a left hand turn and i heard like a grinding/thumping noise coming from my driver side and i could feel it in my steering wheel and on the floor of the car. What could it be? (my power steering leaks, could that be it?)

jlaudio1800 · 10-27-2007

Your best bet would be to replace tie rods and tires and alignment. If you choose to do it yourself be sure to get them pretty much in line before you drive it. (1/8")

'stang princess · 10-27-2007

How hard is that and about how much would it cost? Is it a day long project?

GeorgiaLX · 10-28-2007

Sounds to me like you need tie rods. They require a special tool so youll probally have to pay about $300. Ive herd they are a nightmare to do yourself but I havent need to do it yet.

'stang princess · 10-29-2007

I just found out that I am leaking anitfreeze all over the place. Could the grinding noisebe my water pump going bad?

SloPony · 11-04-2007

Not if it only grinds when ggoing around corners. THAT sounds more like wheel bearings. Not to hard to replace, but you gotta know what your doing. I replace tierod ends and wheel bearings all day-everyday though, so I can do them in my sleep.