My new Miata's driven like a champ for over 1000 miles now. But today......yikes.
At speeds over about 45 mph, whenever I take a curve, there seems to be scary oversteer; feels like the rear end is about to pull out any minute. Particularly bad on highway exit ramps, but even noticeable on real shallow curves.
Thing is, I'm an experienced, intuitive driver, so I noticed this and compensated BEFORE it reached the tire-squealing, out-of-control point. So there's a nagging voice telling me that I was imagining it. But in 30 years of driving, I haven't really imagined this sort of scenario. Particularly not with my Miata, which I'm used to handling like it's on rails. And I'm not anxious to test the issue at 45 mph. I don't have any local empty parking lots that big
Traction and other controls are on.
Any ideas? I have hit some bumps recently, so it might (??) just be alignment. Also haven't checked tire pressure lately, but I don't think that's an issue.
Originally Posted by notjeff
..............Any ideas? I have hit some bumps recently, so it might (??) just be alignment. Also haven't checked tire pressure lately, but I don't think that's an issue.
SHAME ON YOU..........
I'd start with checking for an almost flat tire......then (if that ain't it), move on to an alignment check..........
humfrz
I'd have noticed a reasonably flat tire immediately. But you're right, I should check the pressure...
Does this car knock out of alignment particularly easy? They weren't SUCH major bumps....
Also, if anyone knows a good alignment shop within 20 miles of Danbury, CT, I'd be much obliged! humfrz, you used to live hereabouts, no?
[QUOTE=notjeff;3956957Does this car knock out of alignment particularly easy? They weren't SUCH major bumps....[/QUOTE]
No issues getting knocked out of alignment.
The stock alignment specs are fairly wide, each wheel can be pointed different directions and still be in spec. Most people notice a nice improvement with a precision alignment.
If not the tire pressures, maybe a disconnected (endlink on a) stabilizer bar?
Originally Posted by notjeff
I'd have noticed a reasonably flat tire immediately. But you're right, I should check the pressure...
Does this car knock out of alignment particularly easy? They weren't SUCH major bumps....
Also, if anyone knows a good alignment shop within 20 miles of Danbury, CT, I'd be much obliged! humfrz, you used to live hereabouts, no?
I have found that the relatively low profile tires on the NC can quot;lookquot; and quot;poundquot; like they have at least 30 pounds in them and have only 15 pounds....... Good you are going to check.....
I have driven over 60,000 miles in my NC and never had the alignment whacked out. However, your car might not be as tight or you have hit some of those nasty Fairfield County bumps......
An alignment shop near Danbury?...... I lived there too long ago. Back then, we used to use a 6' piece of 1x2 with a nail in each end and a piece of chalk .......... never mind........ that was a loooong time ago...........
I'd recommend you contact your local Miata Club for a alignment shop recommendation.....
Hope ya get er squared away.
humfrz
If the car feels like a yaw...in curves only to one side...then that would narrow it down. If the car feels like a yaw...in curves to both sides...then you might contact the poster who is having motion sickness and see how he is doing.
Well...a broken front swaybar could affect rear yaw to both sides...but the swaybars really aren't that big.
Of course check to see if the car is sitting level...that will check for a bad spring...or for a gas shock not preloading the spring.
Tires have already been mentioned...but one defect tire would be yaw to one side.
So what's left is...the ABS and Traction Control...like one rear brake getting some braking force all the time...and that would be yaw to one side. Of course you could do a coasting check from 70 MPH to 40 MPH...and compare to another NC owner.
Oh...yeah...take the fuse out of the ABS and see if the yaw is gone...
This did happen to me on a two-door Cadillac...it was a lane change yaw at interstate speeds. I forgot...because I just took the ABS fuse out and moved on to other things. And short stopping distances are the result of front-to-rear electronic hydraulic brake force proportioning...so I don't have time to troubleshoot the ABS on a 10 year old car.
In fact I would like to see someone do a scientific study of cars on the road...what precentage of them get better fuel mileage with the ABS fuse take out ? If I've got this right...then it's a scoop.
I noticed this on my 08 prht GT with suspension package. When I first got the car and even sometimes still, it feels like I'm gonna lose control on fast turns.
I think it has to do with the soft suspension and how it willow-wollows on the soft shocks.
When I read half your post I was wondering if the tire pressure had been checked. That probably wouldn't have taken as much time as the post.
I have suspension package, too, but it wasn't doing this before.
Tire pressure is exactly 33 in all four (door panel urges 29...so I let some out).
Car's not leaning.
Will proceed with alignment (which it seems isn't a bad idea, in any case). Figuring I need all four wheels, right? Will also try the ABS fuse removal trick, but...Idunno....
And motion sickness was a witty diagnosis...but who knows.....
Just what is quot;knocked out of alignment?quot; Do you mean something getting bent?
hmm, have you slipped a belt on the tire. An bulges or sidewall damage?
If it is that pronounced you must have broken something in the suspension. I can't imagine knocking an allignment so far out as to cause this kind of instability. Is your rear swaybar still intact?
Originally Posted by clmson89
If it is that pronounced you must have broken something in the suspension. I can't imagine knocking an allignment so far out as to cause this kind of instability. Is your rear swaybar still intact?
+1 on that. You'd be able to eyeball an alignment problem if it were that bad.
Originally Posted by notjeff
I'd have noticed a reasonably flat tire immediately. But you're right, I should check the pressure...
Does this car knock out of alignment particularly easy? They weren't SUCH major bumps....
Also, if anyone knows a good alignment shop within 20 miles of Danbury, CT, I'd be much obliged! humfrz, you used to live hereabouts, no?
notjeff - not sure if it's too late to help you out with the alignment check but I just moved to Danbury and I found the installer Sugar Hill Service when I ordered some tires from Tire Rack and needed an installer. They have a brand new 4-wheel alignment system (can't remember the name but it's the one everyone here always talks about being the BOMB!).
SUGAR HILL SVC CTR amp; AUTO
153 SUGAR ST
NEWTOWN, CT 06470
Phone: 203 426 8409
They did alignment on my S4 when I got tires and I have to say I have never felt a car drive as straight or smooth as it does now (when I can get it away from the wifey, that is)
Give them a try - they also claim to do warranty services to dealer spec at a much lower price. Going to try them out once the CPO on my Audi runs out and will very likely start using them for the Miata dealer services too.
Necarlover, thanks a lot. I hear they've got a pretty good body shop there, as well.
Welcome to the nabe. PM me if you need some local tips (food/beer/etc).
Following up.....
Next day, I was late for an appointment, and drove 75 miles, considerably stressed, and failed to notice that the issue was gone.
As I drove home, about halfway I recalled the problem just as I took a highway curve...and suddenly the very same feeling recurred. I was well aware that the recollection preceded the feeling!
Since then, whenever I look for oversteer, the same feeling instantly recurs....particularly if i watch the front fenders on curves. Something about the visual angle looks like the front is tremendously oversteering. Guess I'm just not used to the small size or low-to-the-ground vantage point!
????
Reminds me of a line from Macbeth: #8220;It is a tale #8230; full of sound and fury; signifying nothing.#8221;
Indeed!
Are you oversteering or just feeling it or it just looks to be?
Don't look at the front fenders. Look at and beyond the curve. In other words, look to where you want to be, rather than where you're immediately at. Your oversteer might just go away!
Originally Posted by notjeff
Following up.....
Next day, I was late for an appointment, and drove 75 miles, considerably stressed, and failed to notice that the issue was gone.
As I drove home, about halfway I recalled the problem just as I took a highway curve...and suddenly the very same feeling recurred. I was well aware that the recollection preceded the feeling!
Since then, whenever I look for oversteer, the same feeling instantly recurs....particularly if i watch the front fenders on curves. Something about the visual angle looks like the front is tremendously oversteering. Guess I'm just not used to the small size or low-to-the-ground vantage point!
Are you saying that it's an athletic inconsistency ?
Okay...but fix the car for the driver...anyway...
Try 30 pounds of air in the front tires and 34 pounds of air in the back tires...
Or...
Put on a larger front swaybar while keeping the stock rear swaybar...and this is a known set-up since this is what is allowed in Stock Solo.
Sorry, that was overly subtle, I guess.
To boil it down: it was all in my head. Or, I should say, in my eye and in my head. Good advice, Blue...never look at the fender. The problem is that sitting so low, the fender's sort of right there!
Originally Posted by R Tach
Try 30 pounds of air in the front tires and 34 pounds of air in the back tires...
Trying to cause oversteer?
Originally Posted by R Tach
Put on a larger front swaybar while keeping the stock rear swaybar...and this is a known set-up since this is what is allowed in Stock Solo.
Trying to reduce oversteer?
I'm confused.
Or did I just miss your joke?
Since you only have about 1k miles on the car you probably have the Hiroshima Alignment. Take it back to the dealer or a good Alignment shop and have it realigned. Had to do that with my '06 and it corrected a whole host of problems. |
Post at 2-7 08:18 AM
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