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