Newbie needs help with a handling issue
 

Hi all. I'm obviously new here, but I have a major problem and am in desperate need of some advice. I have a 1998 Protege LX. On Friday, while heading home, I hit a pretty good sized pothole that I absolutely could not avoid. Friday evening I noticed a shimmy from my rear end. Any bump in the road caused the rear end to sway side to side. It progressively got worse over the past few days and now is to the point where the vehicle nearly loses control for the slightest crack in the road. I've seen suggestions of it being the hub bearings, shocks, sway bar links...etc. I'm just wondering if any have heard of or seen this issue before that can offer some helpful advice. Thanks so much in advance.

Drive over a piece of wood and get down to the ground and actually look under your car and take 5 pictures.

Mikey:
Lift one rear side with a jack like you would when taking off a tire. Lift it just enough so the wheel is off the ground. Grab the wheel on the 3 an 9 o'clock and try to twist it. It should not give. Then grab it on the 11 and 1 o'clock, push in and pull out. Same on the 5 and 7 o'clock. Don't put your hand under the tire just in case the car falls off the jack!
Or better yet: take it to the shop.