FIRST verify your struts, strut mounts, and axle bushings are ok.


This is typically evident as a problem where you feel like a fishtail swaying on snow covered roads, or ice. Due to lightness of the rear end.


But with a solid rear axle, its a transfer of weight. I've hit a few things that "feel" like it pushed the car sideways. Its usually the car feels like it "slides" to the opposite side of what you hit that is because if you hit something hard enough, it will move the whole axle up. And as a result, the car has to quickly recenter it weight, which is the movement you feel.

Try to avoid hitting things, which is hard to do in PA. But its not an issue limited to the aveo, it is felt a little more as the car is so light. But most cars that have a solid axle rear end do something similar.