Stop my skittering
QMy Vauxhall Viva HC handles like a drunk spaniel on a laminate floor. Uneven road surfaces send it skittering around. The track-rod ends and all the suspension joints are fine. Any ideas? Evelyn Smith, Bicester
AGet the tracking checked first. If the front wheels are toed-out instead of in, this will cause random wandering on bumpy surfaces. We assume you checked the rear suspension bushes?
If you can’t find play anywhere and the tracking’s fine, try changing the shock absorbers. They’re often blamed for the effects of wear elsewhere, but
they can sometimes be the root of erratic roadholding.
The standard test is to push hard down on each corner of the car and release. The body should dip, rebound, then settle. If it bounces, the shocks are weak. OEM or period like-forlike replacements will give the best balance of ride and handling.