She Dances: back end feels very loose.

[SquareWheel]

Today, I paid my money and took my chances. The test ride went well; nothing felt out of place. However, on the 3 hour ride home through some of the best roads Oahu has to offer my little girl's back end felt loose, really loose at times. She seemed to get worse as time and speed increased. There is also a god awful metal on metal bang.

Here's the run down:

• Braking has her pulling to the left.
  Acceleration has her pulling to the right, then the left.
  Quick shift have her all over the place.
  Happens at any speed, but less noticeable at slow speeds, much more exciting at the top of the speed-O-meter. (ok, not the claimed 140 mph top speed, but a more reasonable 45-60 mph).
  The metal on metal bang seems possibly connected to shifting...

The banging seems to rear left side, but that , might be a effect of siting on that side of the car, rather than an real clue to what's going on.

This may be more than one problem, hell the car in nearly 30 years old.

What are the likely candidates? The last owner says the banging is new, maybe a $16 rubber bumper for the transmission.The sway he's never noticed. I noticed and would like it cured.

[Curly]

Swaying sounds like upper or lower control arm bushes. Banging could be as simple as the exhaust pipe or more sinister like the tail shaft centre bearing coming adrift.
Sounds like she needs a good inspection on a hoist. Check the condition of the rubber donut while you're there.

[mdrburchette]

Maybe a rear shock loose?

[pope]

The first and easiest thing to look for is that the bolts on all the wheels are tight. This is an often overlooked fix. And make sure that there are all four bolts per wheel!!! Then follow everyones suggestion.

The pulling on braking could be a frozen caliper.
When you drive, is the steering wheel perfectly centered in you hands when going in a straight line? If not, could be alignment problems.
Also make sure the body attachment points of the trailing arms for the rear axle are not rusted and flexing under acceleration or braking. Definitely a major rust spot.

Also the metal on metal could be like Mark said about the rear bar, or that one of the rear shocks (like Denise said) lost the rubber grommet at the top of the shock. there is rubber on both sides that sandwich the metal of the body, and its hard to see the inside grommet sometimes.
Good luck,

[So Cal Mark]

my bet is one of the bushings on the lower rear bar is worn out, but all of the suggestions are good ones. As Curly stated, inspect everything underneath so you don't have a surprise failure

[SquareWheel]

Ok. I had a chance today to take her out for spin. I took a spirited and non-spirited drive down Lagoon Dr. (great view of the Jumbo Jets taking off heading out bound trip and the Honolulu and Diamond Head on the return leg.). She pulls to the left, and under braking she really pulls to the left. Alarmingly so under hard braking. I think her backside wiggle is caused at a reaction to the leg pull (brake related?).

As for the noises, I'm going to put together a new post on that: "Bang-Bang goes the Fiat"

The previous owner sold me a spare brake caliper and pads. So i think he was on to something there. He also hand an uninstall U-joint.

[racydave]

The brake hoses may collapse internally, and are old enough to warrant replacment, Id replace them along with the calipers.