lateral instability

[vetviper]

When I drive my GTS at speeds of say over 60 or under hard acceleration and over an uneven road surface, it can wander off the straight line, producing a disconcerting feel for passengers and driver alike! If the road surface is even, then this doesn't happen and the car steers a perfect staright line.

Is this something vipers tend to do, or is the suspension set up likely to need refining. If so does anyone have any ideas what might need to be adjusted?

Thanks

[Ginja]

This is exactly the problem I had when I got mine. Its really rather unnerving and made me wonder if I had done the right thing in buying the car for a bit. Anyway, mine is much much happier now and I think that is due to 3 things. Firstly the tracking was miles out. I took the car to a garage with one of those beissbath 4 wheel tracking machines (which had the GTS settings on it already) and as the guy who did loved the car he very carefully set it up to within a micrometer of the recommended setting. I drove it around for 20 minutes and they checked and adjusted it again. This made a massive difference. Secondly I recently changed the front tyres (which were the original 1997 PS1's), as almost everyone says this was an incredible change in character. I can now drive the car with one hand on the A roads of Sussex (although Surrey's roads still require more care and attention!). Thirdly I have woken to the responsibility I have as a driver when in the car and don't feel the need to use the accelerator as an 'on - off' switch anymore! Well, almost all the time :-)

Net result is I can now appreciate the character of the car and to be honest I absolutely love it more than ever. My only problem is I love it so much I don't want to drive it as I might add too many miles...

Mark

[Viper]

From experience to get a good planted feel a 4 wheel alignment is a must the early cars didnt have a decent setup from the factory

sticky new tyres will always help, the heat cyles tend to make the rubber go hard and loose grip. If you speak to the US guys they will say swap the tyres after 5 years regardless of the mileage on them, even if you have loads of tread left. I've done that in the past. If you fit new tyres get alignment done afterwards not before

But wide tyres on a uneven road is always going to create problems and give a darty ride

Edited by Viper on Thursday 19th February 21:54

[neilsfishing]

I put it down to the testosterone toque infused horses that fly at an instant, the moment the speed adjuster is caressed. When I first drove mine and still now, well it’s a beast, its only on the track I feel a little in control
Keep driving put the miles on! You may be dead tomorrow! When you some one sell it (remember Vipers are for life not just for Christmas)you may get an extra 10-20% woop-de-doo

[Viper_Larry]

The very wide gyres on the Viper are very susceptible to tram lining causing the car to wonder around the lane your in. This may not be your problem, but some roads can be very bad for this.

[neilsfishing]

Viper_Larry said:

The very wide gyres on the Viper are very susceptible to tram lining causing the car to wonder around the lane your in. This may not be your problem, but some roads can be very bad for this.

Thats it

[V10 BAT]

This may help .these guys were great.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[yorkie boy]

since buying my 94 rt/10 i had struggled and even battled with the steering and tramlining but accepted that this is what early vipers were like !.the day before last years luton lunch i had the front tyres replaced.the drive to luton the following day was an absolute dream.i could drive with just one hand on the wheel and hardly any tramlining. i told viper kev about the situation as he had the same problem and changed his front boots soon after with great effect.
SO GET SOME NEW RUBBER !!!

[vetviper]

Great advice - thanks very much. I have booked in for a 4 wheel alignment at A&A tyres in Cardiff next week. I'll let you all know what effect it has had.

Cheers Rich

[Viper_Larry]

yorkie boy said:

since buying my 94 rt/10 i had struggled and even battled with the steering and tramlining but accepted that this is what early vipers were like !.the day before last years luton lunch i had the front tyres replaced.the drive to luton the following day was an absolute dream.i could drive with just one hand on the wheel and hardly any tramlining. i told viper kev about the situation as he had the same problem and changed his front boots soon after with great effect.
SO GET SOME NEW RUBBER !!!

I find the Pilot Sport PS2 much better for this as they are quite rounded. You will experience the above on old PS1 that are much flatter

[yorkie boy]

it was ps2's i fitted on the front

[Viper Nigel]

If new rubber or alignment doesn't cure the problem you may need to get the bumpsteer adjusted. I think vprman knows about what and how to do it. It can be more pronounced if the car has been lowered.

Check this article - last para in Driving Impressions
http://www.autotrader.com/research/article/4562/20...

Nigel

[vetviper]

Great article Nigel - thanks for the link

[ViperDave]

Don't think anyone has said this yet, check your tire pressures. I have been trying to tie down the optimum pressure for the SRT size tires on the GTS and had been running 32psi which felt very twitchy. Just dropped it down to the GTS recommended pressures (29psi) and it now feels much more planted on the road. Just need to keep an eye on the wear patten now.

These cars do react a lot to very minor changes such as this.

[viper paul]

Yes when I took mine in for a full service as it was still under warranty the Viper Tech at my dealer advised running the SRT at 29 psi with the run craps, the difference was amazing, I now run the PS2's at this pressure and the car still drives better.

[ViperGTS99]

Suspension
Tires
Pressure
Alignment

ALL big factors. If there is no other problem like a twisted frame, A-arm etc.!
Having owned 3 Viper up to now and driven several others I can say that

NEW tires (younger than 3 years) with the right pressure: PS2 = 1.9 bar only!
A good alignment - not too agressive like for track use
is the best to keep the beast stable

The StarTech suspension I had in my RT/10 was superior. The stock suspension on the FE GTS I bought last year drives and feels like a "nightmare" compared to the StarTech! Same new PS2 on the cars. Both cars new alignement.

Edited by ViperGTS99 on Monday 23 February 15:01

[vetviper]

I've adjusted the tyre pressures to 1.9 bar all round (the tyres are new PS2's anyway) and had the 4 wheel alignment done today. You can see that the front toe was quite a long way out, as was the camber on one side. The caster is fine.





The guy said to definitely do the toe, but that the camber would cost about £120 to do, as it is quite tricky since it will affect the caster when adjusted (toe cost £55). We agreed that we'd try the toe to see what effect that had firts, before sinking another £120 into the job.

Well, having done all of these things, the resulkt is MUCH better, and I drove at around 70mph on a pice of dual carriageway that always makes the car twitchy, and it didn't show any signs of tracking / twitching at all, so I think the problem is solved. Thanks very much for all the advice.
Rich

PS hope the pictures come out - first time I've tried that.

[viper kev]

yorkie boy said:

since buying my 94 rt/10 i had struggled and even battled with the steering and tramlining but accepted that this is what early vipers were like !.the day before last years luton lunch i had the front tyres replaced.the drive to luton the following day was an absolute dream.i could drive with just one hand on the wheel and hardly any tramlining. i told viper kev about the situation as he had the same problem and changed his front boots soon after with great effect.

SO GET SOME NEW RUBBER !!!

Yorkie boy was bang on for me, new tyres made a massive difference to my car

[Viper]

here you go

[vetviper]

Thanks - what did I do wrong?