17 replies to this topic

[mayfairjimmy]

Ok, basically i've been driving 7 months in that time i've spun my car three times and tonight my neighbour has also done it, it only does it whilst turning right, you dont have to be travelling at speed and the whole car is very twitchy with steering, does anyone have any ideas??
it's running 12" ultralites with 165, 50 profiles

[cowboy]

that like asking us to find a needle in a haysack.........

the best thing to do is to start looking at the set-up of the car, do you have any trouble with tyre wear that might give away a fault that you haven't done any thing about.

what were the weather conditions when this happened. i know snow causes these effects with my mini, and for some reason i allways find the handbrake applied when ive stopped, is that strange?

whats the condition of your tyres as the weather will effect this as well..

just a few things to bear in mind, but have a good look at everything.

[vasi]

Tyres - Cheap hard compound tyres are no good, especially bald, cheap hard compound ones. If you have them, throw them in the bin they will get you killed.
For a 12" wheel, the A539 is not a bad all round tyre.

Suspension - Check your suspension dampers, check the radius arm for lateral play, check tie bar bushes, bottom arm bushes, subframe bushes, even engine mounts and engine tie bar bushes. Check your rubber cones, if your car is sagging at the front, simple physics dictates that the back end will have far less grip when decellerating.
A good, low cost replacement for standard, useless oil dampers are the KYB fixed 15% uprated gas ones. If you need to replace the cones, use genuine ones and don't do the back ones unless necessary. Replaceing the cones is a good time to fit hi-lo's and makes the job 10x easier too!

Geometry - If you are running standard equip, don't concern too much with camber / castor angles unless there's an enormous difference. Take your car to a garage that has 4 wheel alignment equipment.

[mayfairjimmy]

The first time i had new falkens all round and now, i've got brand new A539's on the front and some half worn falkens on the rear, this has happened in all weather conditions from very hot to wet. i've had the tracking adjusted and its better, havent done the shocks yet lack of funding.

Edited by mayfairjimmy, 10 February 2007 - 05:22 PM.

[minimarco]

obviously thats the problem

far more grip in the front (i meant traction, family forum) than the rear

Edited by minimarco, 10 February 2007 - 05:37 PM.

[mayfairjimmy]

obviously thats the problem

far more grip in the front (i meant traction, family forum) than the rear

It did it twice before i got the yoke's the front tyre change didnt really make a difference (only caused the arches to rub)

[minimarco]

is the car torque steering by any chance?

weird how its doing it when turning right

Edited by minimarco, 10 February 2007 - 06:00 PM.

[mayfairjimmy]

it's hard to explain when turning left it feels normal like not to responive little bit understeer the expected, but when turning right it is a lot more sensitive and rear end twitchy, it will understeer then the back will flick round and then its time for spinning.

[Richard]

you cant drive!

does it brake in a straight line?

[mayfairjimmy]

you cant drive!

does it brake in a straight line?

I can drive 21st century driving test........

it used to, before i changed the brakes and hydraulics, not the o/s rear shoe is lazy to release and it pulls left

[mini93]

i prefer turnin round left corner i feel more confortable with it, any chance it would to do with that? but of a long shot i guess

[Dan]

Check the condition of the left hand rear suspension very well. Make sure the damper is working and the radius arm is both greased and properly attached to the car. Make sure it is actually turning on it's shaft and hasn't worn an enlarged hole in the subframe, particularly on the inside end of the shaft due to it being siezed. Mini's lift the inside rear wheel on cornering and even when taking it easy it will loose some weight on the inside rear as you turn. Anything wrong with the outside rear under those conditons will have an increased effect. While you're at the back, make sure the rear subby isn't actually fractured or badly corroded or bent.

Other than that, check the front tie rods are dead straight and the bushes aren't worn out all round.

Edited by Dan, 10 February 2007 - 06:32 PM.

[mayfairjimmy]

i prefer turnin round left corner i feel more confortable with it, any chance it would to do with that? but of a long shot i guess

Been brought up kart racing clockwisr racing all right handers

[fikus01]

could be a knackered cone or knuckle, making the corner weights funny or even a ball joint or worn radius arm bush!! make sure nothing wobbles or is loose, you could try getting your 4 wheel tracking checked at a reputable garage!

[blacktulip]

make sure you DONT run toe out at the back also.