Tracking or something else

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themanalive

Original Poster:

59 posts

138 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
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Whilst overseas for the last few years my Mk1 MX5 was left standing at my brothers house. Before I came back a mechanic had a look over it and it needed new springs on all 4 corners and they had all snapped.

Since I got back it has had a binding brake (fixed by me) and now a hole in the exhaust. Attempted to change it today by sheared a bolt off undoing the rear brace and then rounded off the nut trying to remove the exhaust from behind the cat. Have given up for the day and will get someone else to fix it for me.

But on to my question, the car has just not felt right on the road since I started driving it again. The steering feels very imprecise, it seems to pull a random times at speed, a bit like tramlining. Looking at the car head on, the drivers side appears to be slightly lower than the other. Also, when I jacked it up to put it on axle stands today, I noticed that the RHS front was visibly leaning in at the bottom (-ve) when there was no weight on the wheels.

So, is there something not right with the new springs that could be causing the poor handling? Could it be it just need the alignment done?

Grateful for views.

Sad Weevil

118 posts

147 months

Sunday 17th August 2014
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Certainly get the alignment checked and adjusted, but also, if it's been sat for a few years the tyres will probably have turned to cheese.

skinny

5,269 posts

234 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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Or plastic...

Tyre pressures ok?

orange n blue

115 posts

213 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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I think its tyres. I had the same issue with my car which I only got last week. Steering very vague so I took it in for 4 wheel alignment which was spot on. Guy in the garage asked why I was getting it checked.
I put another set of tyres on it last night which I borrowed and it drives like a different car

themanalive

Original Poster:

59 posts

138 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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Thanks for the replies.

I have a feeling its a combination of both tyres and alignment. Will get both done.

T1Rs a good option for fast road driving?

Locknut

653 posts

136 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
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It's not clear if the new set of springs has been fitted. If it has and the handling problem followed, there could be a connection.

Are both springs matched on each axle? If one spring is too long/short/soft/stiff the effect will be the same as a short leg on a four leg table. The table will rock as the items on it are moved. Likewise in a car the weight will move while the car travels/turns/brakes/accelerates, and as the suspension "rocks" each wheel will contribute either more or less than it was designed to do.

Sorry for the non-technical explanation but I hope it can be understood. The way to check it is to find a weighing machine that can read the weight at each wheel.

arthurc604

32 posts

169 months

Saturday 23rd August 2014
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Tyres certainly - if they are over around 7 years old it's probably time to go anyway especially if you drive "fast". The year and week of manufacture is moulded on the sidewall. For a fast road tyre, personally I would be choosing the Yokohama AD-08R.

If that plus alignment - a full alignment, not just "tracking" - doesn't solve it I would move on to...

The replacement springs are an important consideration. Do you know if they are either new or came as a complete set from another car? As a very basic check you can measure the diameter of the spring wire and count then number of coils to see if they are consistent on your axles. Ideally the springs could be properly measured but it will be impossible while they are installed.

Binding suspension can also cause what you describe. With both endlinks disconnected you should be able to move the antisway bars by hand. If you are comfortable with partially compressing your springs and disconnecting the dampers, moving the suspension arms through their range of motion would be a good test also.

themanalive

Original Poster:

59 posts

138 months

Monday 25th August 2014
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Finally managed to change the exhaust today. I bought some Irwin Bolt Grip Removers which made very short work of the rounded bolt. New exhaust went on in no time (though it was tipping it down and I wasnt able to put the car in the garage so was a somewhat damp experience!)

The springs were all new. I am wondering whether they have been mixed up and the fronts and rears and not all in the correct places. They should be aftermarket standard MX5 Mk1 springs - is there an easy way to tell which are fronts and rears? I have some spring compressors on the way (any excuse to pick up more garage tools) so if they are in the wrong place I'll be able to swap them around.

New tyres will be on the way shortly.

themanalive

Original Poster:

59 posts

138 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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Well, just to finish off this thread, I had the geometry and alignment done today down at Kent MX5 Service. Totally fixed the issues and the car drove like a dream on the way back home. It had different toe out and positive cambers on the front wheels which probably helped make it such an interesting drive.

Chris at Kent MX5 was brilliant and I thoroughly recommend them if you need anything done on your car.