mx5cartalk.com

Hey everyone,

I just needed some help, as im totally stumped. Lately in the past couple of weeks i have noticed that my car has been handling differently.
Usually when i throw it into a corner it grips like crazy... But now when i go hard into a corner, it feels like its understeering, and not gripping as good.

Theres something that just dosent feel right, it almost feels like the front is floating around corners. I though maybe it was the shocks/springs but they seemed fine. Tyre's have about 75% left on them.

My car has a whiteline adjustable sway bar on the front, set to the hardest setting, im thinking it might be the bushes on the tie bars.. but im not certain..

Something else is worrying me, the steering is not as direct. It seems to be sloppy, as i used to move the steering wheel a little from side to side and the car would turn, but now when i do it the car hardly moves. The steering used to be quite heavy in corners(as it has no ps), but now it turn very easily almost like its not even gripping.

Im really worried guys, as i have no idea whats wrong.

any ideas? I though i would ask here before i take it to my mechanic..

any help is very appreciated..

cheers
Ryan

Get your alignment checked? That can make a huge difference...

Been playing with tyre pressures? With the heavier front sway it might be plowing because the front tyres are firm and skip on their edges rather than having more rubber on the ground to grip with.

Make the front swaybar looser so it doesn't understeer so much perhaps?

On the subject of alignments does anyone use these settings:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

If so what do you think?

EDIT: Found this:
http://www.aus-cartalk.com/viewtopic.php?t=15398

By saying you hyave a front sawy bar, i am assuming you do not have the matching rear sway bar?

In either case i would relax the sway bar to the middle setting, check tire pressures and get your alignment checked (dont get it changed if its not required, just checked, should cost about $20 as opposed to $150)

My main hunch is still the sway bar.

I have been running the front sway bar on its hardest setting, for the past year and a half (since i bought the car). I have never had any problems with it, always handled great. I checked my tyre pressure the other day, its fine and is the same pressure i have been running since i got the tyres.

Does anyone think the bushes on the swaybar endlinks might be gone? The steering just seems to have play in it, and is not as direct as it used to be.

In mid corner the steering wheel feels like its floating, and is very easy to turn. If i turn in hard you can feel that the car is uneasy, and is wanting to understeer.

no ideas?

thinking i might go down to my local syspension shop, to get them to have a look.

Broken swaybar mount perhaps...have a look under the car and check.

are the steering rack mounts tight?

Tina

Well i have just had it up on the stands, everything seems to be fine.

There is no knock or noise in the steering, or suspension, and everything seems tight. The bushes in the swaybar end links have cracks in them, so im thinking it might be them... anyone know if it normal?

green_comet wrote:Well i have just had it up on the stands, everything seems to be fine.

There is no knock or noise in the steering, or suspension, and everything seems tight. The bushes in the swaybar end links have cracks in them, so im thinking it might be them... anyone know if it normal?

There should not be any cracks in the end link bushes. Are these adjustable or modified end links, I assume so as the standard NA end links wont reach the hardest setting on the adjustable swaybar.

J

they dont?? thats prolly y they are cracked.. bugger
putting alot of pressure on them..


think i might get a couple of these..

Just a long shot, have you checked the rear as well?

Jules

yep all is well...

green_comet wrote:they dont?? thats prolly y they are cracked.. bugger
putting alot of pressure on them..

In my case (have a whiteline adjustable on the front) the OEM end links cannot reach the hardest setting as they are not long enough. It may be possible to fit them by applying tension to the sway bar?

Are you saying your end links are un-modified OEM and they are attached to the holes on the sway bar furtherest from the end of the sway bar. ie the hardest setting?

J