Suspension woes

[Prof]

Been on the country run this evening, and the car has developed a nasty habbit:

• On breaking heavily or hitting pot holes, the car veers and wallows - well unpleasant.
• Seems ok on cornering at low-medium speed, and acceleration in a straight line
• Car doesn\'t pull to the left or right when on a straight flat road.
• Car does not seem unlevel at rest, so suggests shocks / springs are ok

Did flick a torch underneath - but getting a bit dark so couldn\'t see much, but the links and rods all seem to be where they are meant to be, and no sign of anything where it shouldn\'t be - will get the jack and axle stands under it tomorrow to get a better look.
 
Any ideas - would like to try and diagnose it before Hampshire meet on Monday.
 
Cheers,
 
One worried Prof :eek :confused:

[FD3SNuttah]

maybe you havent got a firm enough grip on that steering wheel dude.

[Prof]

ROFL :rollin :driving

[Adriansturgess]

Checked tyre pressures?

Not sure about the validity of point 4 - shockers could be shot, doesn\'t necessarily put static level out of true??!!!

[t2rew]

jack car up, spin the front wheels and see if they are sticking. if they are, the callipers have started seizing. i have two nearly new recon ones that cost me about £260 that id love to sell you for a bargain price.

[grinder]

sounds like mine to be honest - i hope you find an answer

[Grizzly]

Does it feel like its steering from the Front or the back?

I think T2rew is most likely right, When the Pistons start sticking it makes a Dramatic diffrence to the braking.

What i\'d do if i was you is jack the car up and remove the ft wheels, then get a screw driver or pry bar and move the Pads back in the calipers (they should move quite easly but will require a bit of force) you\'ll know if ones sticking as it won\'t move or the pads will have uneven wear on each side of the Disk, whilst there have a good look at the Struts for oil leaks etc and have a quick look at the Bottom ball joint (use a Bar to move the lower wish bone away from the Hub assembly at the same time feel to see if its moving or has wear)

[Prof]

Thanks guys - checked all of the above !
 
Joints all look fairly solid and there is no obvious sign of anything very loose - some of the bushes were replaced 4 years ago, and 2 front control links - so although some of the bushes may need to be replaced this can be done as a part of a full suspension overhaul.
 
Springs - they are the orignal ones, but the old bounce test for the shocks and springs seems to suggest they are still usable - will be changing springs in any case as part of the above - just hard to find springs for Verts
 
Shocks ok - no oil leaks, but then these Konis are only 3 years on the car now, and it doesn\'t get tracked so they should be ok.
 
Checked brakes - these were only done in May, they seem to be ok - no sign of uneven wear.
 
But once I had it jacked up on the axle stands I checked the wheels for play - rather a lot on the passenger side, and a little on drivers side. So thought I would check the wheel bearing - OMG :2eek - the passenger side wheel bearing nut took 3 whole turns to tigthen - I didn\'t have the torque setting tool, so I have done this up tight and backed off about 1/2 turn and same on drivers side - although only 1.5 turns to tighten on this one.
 
Seems the wheels were oscillating under breaking (most of the breaking force on the front - so it makes sense) throwing the cars steering out.
 
Took it for a test drive and it seems a whole heap better :driving
 
Thanks anyway for the pointers - it\'s always worth checking this stuff out when you get under the car !!
 
And Stu - have you found a source for those bushes yet at a Grinder friendly price? :Giggle

[grinder]

im still tempted to get these : http://www.nopionline.com/nopistore/dsp_part_detail.cfm?vmakeid=220&vmodelid=170&vcatyear=1990&vnopinum=410%2B0317&vTitle=MAZDA%20RX7%201990

just not sure what they are

[shaunwil]

Just get your finger out and order a set :p

Shaun

[grinder]

yeah i know buddy - just need to be 100% sure what im getting

i found a site and you can buy them in various packages - prob is - cant find the site again

Stu

[grinder]

found what i was looking for

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/products.asp?cat=1234

so not sure what you get in the $80 one up there ^ ??

Stu

[paul3944]

found what i was looking for

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/products.asp?cat=1234

so not sure what you get in the $80 one up there ^ ??

Stu

Stu,

This is a B***ard of a job :reallymad  done the front on mine.
You\'ll need all kinds of tools as the bolts underneath are in rag order :reallymad

Paul

[shaunwil]

Have you got the exploded parts diagrams for the fc ?? If not pm me

Shaun

[grinder]

paul - which kit did you get ??

and what do you mean by "rag order" - does that mean that they are all rusty and seized ??

shaun - i dont have the exploded diagram - feel free to attatch it to the this thread though

Stu