a wierd handling problem, need an advice. - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

xagna · 08-27-2005, 01:15 AM

I was doing some slalom like maneuvers and just found this out.
When I turn the steering wheel any direction all of sudden with very strong force, only handle goes around while the car's response to the sudden steering input comes less than a second late. It is a rubberish feeling I get through the steering.

What could be wrong and should I replace? I feel like it is one of the bushings but not sure.

KA24DESOneThree · 08-27-2005, 01:37 AM

Crank the wheel very quickly and you'll upset your suspension and compromise grip, leading to what I believe is driver-induced terminal understeer. Smoothness is your friend.

What kind of suspension mods are you running? What kind of tires?

Next time, please write a more coherent post. That was hell trying to understand at midnight and a half.

stu8319 · 08-27-2005, 09:31 AM

Check your ball joints.

SpeedMonkeyInc · 08-27-2005, 09:57 AM

Sounds like tall tires to me. Garbage tires with lots of side wall are not good for much but burnouts. Try adding air pressure if you are not getting good response. Too much air though will kill your grip.
If you want to spend money to cure the problem get wider/taller wheels and better tires with shorter sidewalls. Then good suspension parts.

xagna · 08-28-2005, 04:17 PM

Sorry, forgot to tell you what I had in my wheel well.

s13
megan coilover. 2.5 camber in the front.
hankook h405 215/45/17

You sure this is an understeer problem? I don't hear any squeaking noise from the tire when I turn at 60mph. Feel that I can from steering wheel is also different comparing to other s13s when I do same maneuver.

stu8319, when I check the ball joints what kind of things do I have to look for? Cracks?

slivia-junkie · 08-28-2005, 04:26 PM

when cheching ball joints jack up wheel under load(put jack under controle arm). and see if the wheel has movement side to side and top to bottom. by inspection standerds 1/16 inch failing but you want none. also check your steering shaft for play/ binding

kandyflip445 · 08-28-2005, 04:54 PM

Buy a Nismo power brace and t/c rods if you don't already have them.

xagna · 08-29-2005, 03:24 PM

Thanks for the advices.
I do have a free wheel play. IT is about half inch to both directions.

kandyflip445,
Could you tell me how a tension rod and power brace will help me with this? I don't understand. I was thinking that tie rod end might help instead.

kandyflip445 · 08-29-2005, 10:43 PM

With my car there was slop in the steering when doing stuff like that. When I installed those it helped A LOT. PS rack bushings helped A LOT also.

08-27-2005, 01:15 AM	#1
xagna Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: ny Posts: 194 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	a wierd handling problem, need an advice. I was doing some slalom like maneuvers and just found this out. When I turn the steering wheel any direction all of sudden with very strong force, only handle goes around while the car's response to the sudden steering input comes less than a second late. It is a rubberish feeling I get through the steering. What could be wrong and should I replace? I feel like it is one of the bushings but not sure.

08-28-2005, 04:54 PM	#7
kandyflip445 Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Arden, NC Age: 40 Posts: 4,460 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: kandyflip445 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Buy a Nismo power brace and t/c rods if you don't already have them. __________________ My 240 vBgarage

08-29-2005, 10:43 PM	#9
kandyflip445 Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Arden, NC Age: 40 Posts: 4,460 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: kandyflip445 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	With my car there was slop in the steering when doing stuff like that. When I installed those it helped A LOT. PS rack bushings helped A LOT also. __________________ My 240 vBgarage

08-27-2005, 01:37 AM	#2
KA24DESOneThree Post Whore! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: SD County SoCal Age: 39 Posts: 2,564 Trader Rating: (2) Rides Gallery: KA24DESOneThree Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Crank the wheel very quickly and you'll upset your suspension and compromise grip, leading to what I believe is driver-induced terminal understeer. Smoothness is your friend. What kind of suspension mods are you running? What kind of tires? Next time, please write a more coherent post. That was hell trying to understand at midnight and a half.

08-27-2005, 09:31 AM	#3
stu8319 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: OKC Age: 42 Posts: 41 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Check your ball joints.

08-27-2005, 09:57 AM	#4
SpeedMonkeyInc Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Oakland Age: 45 Posts: 1,271 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Sounds like tall tires to me. Garbage tires with lots of side wall are not good for much but burnouts. Try adding air pressure if you are not getting good response. Too much air though will kill your grip. If you want to spend money to cure the problem get wider/taller wheels and better tires with shorter sidewalls. Then good suspension parts.

08-28-2005, 04:17 PM	#5
xagna Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: ny Posts: 194 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Sorry, forgot to tell you what I had in my wheel well. s13 megan coilover. 2.5 camber in the front. hankook h405 215/45/17 You sure this is an understeer problem? I don't hear any squeaking noise from the tire when I turn at 60mph. Feel that I can from steering wheel is also different comparing to other s13s when I do same maneuver. stu8319, when I check the ball joints what kind of things do I have to look for? Cracks?

08-28-2005, 04:26 PM	#6
slivia-junkie Leaky Injector Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: if you could tell me i would be most greatfull Posts: 87 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	when cheching ball joints jack up wheel under load(put jack under controle arm). and see if the wheel has movement side to side and top to bottom. by inspection standerds 1/16 inch failing but you want none. also check your steering shaft for play/ binding

08-29-2005, 03:24 PM	#8
xagna Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: ny Posts: 194 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Thanks for the advices. I do have a free wheel play. IT is about half inch to both directions. kandyflip445, Could you tell me how a tension rod and power brace will help me with this? I don't understand. I was thinking that tie rod end might help instead.