Car: Lexus SC430
I will do a search on the net, but figured you guys might be able to help me out.

My boss has a Lexus SC430 and it has this weird behavior. Sometimes when you slow down, at a light for example, at the last moment the steering wheel goes to one side. If you are not holding the wheel, you see the wheel go 1/4 turn. weird.

At Lexus they told him the alignment is fine. And for the most part the car drives fine. It is just when slowing down and only in some instances. His brother has the same car and he says the behavior exists on that car as well. I am driving the car for a couple of days to test this out and have been able to reproduce the behavior a couple of times.

Have any of you experienced this problem/behavior on any car?

It is annoying, you have to keep your hands on the wheel all the time and you can feel the slight jerk when this happens. Not something one would expect from a $60+K car.

 

Many new cars even the S2000 have a twitch or drift of the wheel at very low speeds under braking. On some cars the wheel wanders near center while approaching a stop. This is likely the consequence of power assist.

 

Sounds like tramlining to me. This is where the car follows minor ridges or ruts in the road surface. Happens more with wide, low profile tyres and stiff suspension, particularly if stiff in roll. Alignment settings will also influence it.

 

Depends on road surface and crown of the road. Especially if the alignment and air pressure is fine.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by naishou
[B]Sounds like tramlining to me.

 

I remember seeing a post about this issue on S2000 before. And the suggestions were .... (other than the one mentioned above) a bad proportional valve, so the braking power isnt balanced. Or, simply some different thickness pads, rotors and etc.

Cool, did you have to exchange with your S2000?

 

My S2000 did this too. If you let go of the wheel while braking it will turn a 1/8 turn to the right just before it stops. It seemed to stop when I replaced the front tires. Tell him to get ride of those crappy run-flats and get some S03s on that rig.

People who chince on tires bug me They are the most important part of the car's handling and safety, they are the only part that touch the ground.