# Car shifts under torque

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shifts-under-torque/32418>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [June 26, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shifts-under-torque/32418 "2009-06-26T16:50:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jpdowns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e79b87/32.png) [@jpdowns](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jpdowns)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shifts-under-torque/32418/1 "2009-06-26T16:50:45Z")

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Hey everyone.  
  
 When I’m driving and I start to accelerate the car will lurch/shift to one side (as if I had jerked the steering wheel), when I let off the gas it will shift back the other way. This has become progressively worse over the past several months. What do I need to look for when I get under the car.  
  
  
  
 The car is a 97 Chevy Cavalier.  
  
  
  
 Thanks!

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**Author:** ![markmast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@markmast](https://community.cartalk.com/u/markmast)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shifts-under-torque/32418/2 "2009-06-26T17:59:32Z")

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I would do a complete inspection of the front end. Check for slop in the ball joints, tie rods, and control arm bushings.

Make sure your tire pressures are equal on both sides.

Are you getting any clunking noises when you drive?

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shifts-under-torque/32418/3 "2009-06-26T18:02:25Z")

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In addition, check out the engine mounts and transmission mounts. This is a major problem, you need to get it fixed ASAP.

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**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shifts-under-torque/32418/4 "2009-06-26T18:43:51Z")

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My vote is bad motor mounts.

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**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shifts-under-torque/32418/5 "2009-06-26T18:49:09Z")

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Could be a control arm flopping around…Have it checked ASAP…

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**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shifts-under-torque/32418/6 "2009-06-26T19:33:07Z")

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Agree, motor mounts and tranasxle mounts are first things I’d check. You should have had this fixed yesterday. More driving = more damage. The car is not safe until you find out what is going on.