993 Wandering badly
Discussion
Have just driven up north for a few days and the journey up was put simply horrendous. The weather was shocking pretty much all the way and it felt like a white knuckle ride. Never been so glad to actually arrive somewhere when I was clearly looking forward to the drive beforehand...
Main issue being a big wander of the front end and I’m not talking the usual light front end of a 993, but wandering left and right. Very speed dependent. Never went more than 70 because the weather was so bad - torrential rain and surface water everywhere so I drove very cautiously and lots of other cars driving similar slow speeds (50 to 70) but also others going past at 85+
Well with what I was experiencing, 70 was at times ok, at others scary. Same could be said of 50. Something’s not right but I can’t put my finger on it - going to have it looked at in the morning because there’s no way I’m doing another 200 miles home under the same conditions!!!
It just felt like something has come adrift up front. Had it not been Boxing Day I would almost certainly have stopped and called the AA but half of me was blaming the conditions and the other half just wanted to get there. 100% sure now that it wasn’t just the conditions.
Any ideas???
Main issue being a big wander of the front end and I’m not talking the usual light front end of a 993, but wandering left and right. Very speed dependent. Never went more than 70 because the weather was so bad - torrential rain and surface water everywhere so I drove very cautiously and lots of other cars driving similar slow speeds (50 to 70) but also others going past at 85+
Well with what I was experiencing, 70 was at times ok, at others scary. Same could be said of 50. Something’s not right but I can’t put my finger on it - going to have it looked at in the morning because there’s no way I’m doing another 200 miles home under the same conditions!!!
It just felt like something has come adrift up front. Had it not been Boxing Day I would almost certainly have stopped and called the AA but half of me was blaming the conditions and the other half just wanted to get there. 100% sure now that it wasn’t just the conditions.
Any ideas???
A few years ago I had a 89' 3.2 911... if it was wet and windy on the motorway 75 was the limit without feeling uncomfortable due to having to fight the car all the time. We had a Polo Gti at the same time and in the same conditions it would track straight and true at 85 and beyond. In the dry all was well in the 911 ?as the car was in 1 st class mechanical nick and alignment spot on had to put it down to early 911 driving charateristics. Please don't be offended but I ask if you are a regular driver of the car or do you drive moderns all week? and are being surprised ( worried) how vintage the 993 feels under certain conditions...other than that of course it could easily be steering joints wear...good luck & enjoy the drive home. Ian
Polome said:
A few years ago I had a 89' 3.2 911... if it was wet and windy on the motorway 75 was the limit without feeling uncomfortable due to having to fight the car all the time. We had a Polo Gti at the same time and in the same conditions it would track straight and true at 85 and beyond. In the dry all was well in the 911 ?as the car was in 1 st class mechanical nick and alignment spot on had to put it down to early 911 driving charateristics. Please don't be offended but I ask if you are a regular driver of the car or do you drive moderns all week? and are being surprised ( worried) how vintage the 993 feels under certain conditions...other than that of course it could easily be steering joints wear...good luck & enjoy the drive home. Ian
Thanks, no offence taken. I do drive a new Golf most of the time, but this just felt downright unsafe - towards the end of the journey I could be doing just 40mph and it would move off track without warning - was really unnerving!I’ve just changed the tyres and wondering if that could really make such a difference. It was just such an unpleasant drive , and when I was really looking forward to being up here in it! :sad:
Going to try and get it looked at whilst up here.
As above, bolts and pressure test first.
If you have access to a ramp via a kwik fit or similar during your trip, lift the car and check for play in the system.
C4 has a rubber damper in the steering arms that deteriorated and gives the above symptoms. Not sure if same on C2.
If not this, dampers or bushes as mentioned before. Also on a final note, I also chased a reoccurrence of the above symptoms a few years ago to the rear suspension that had worn. I would have sworn the steering was vague but it was actually part of the rear bushing that had gone.
If the car does check out, the 2 can feel less certain than the 4 in black ice etc, but it should be consistent. I’ve used mine in the snow for example and it’s manageable but not unpredictable.
Good luck in getting sorted!
Edited for spelling plus - see it’s a manual with 191K you bought recently but that you also have a cab, with such a comparison, the ‘seat of your pants’ concern you have driving it would point to it being some thing needing investigation and not a characteristic of the car.
If you have access to a ramp via a kwik fit or similar during your trip, lift the car and check for play in the system.
C4 has a rubber damper in the steering arms that deteriorated and gives the above symptoms. Not sure if same on C2.
If not this, dampers or bushes as mentioned before. Also on a final note, I also chased a reoccurrence of the above symptoms a few years ago to the rear suspension that had worn. I would have sworn the steering was vague but it was actually part of the rear bushing that had gone.
If the car does check out, the 2 can feel less certain than the 4 in black ice etc, but it should be consistent. I’ve used mine in the snow for example and it’s manageable but not unpredictable.
Good luck in getting sorted!
Edited for spelling plus - see it’s a manual with 191K you bought recently but that you also have a cab, with such a comparison, the ‘seat of your pants’ concern you have driving it would point to it being some thing needing investigation and not a characteristic of the car.
Edited by 996Type on Wednesday 27th December 09:31
Edited by 996Type on Wednesday 27th December 09:36
Edited by 996Type on Wednesday 27th December 09:37
Glad you’ve had some good responses.
Mine often feels ‘odd’ when not driven for a while with the front feeding back lots of messages as compared to the modern daily, just as you’d want it of course. But in almost ten years I’ve not experienced that.
If you’ve had new tyres seems far too much of a coincidence. As others have said check bolts, pressures, weeping shocks (green ones indicate original monroes which are a known weak spot, though mine were fine at 100k), check top mounts - easy check, ARB’s. Agree best to get it on a ramp.
Good luck
I salute you for using this time of year.
Mine often feels ‘odd’ when not driven for a while with the front feeding back lots of messages as compared to the modern daily, just as you’d want it of course. But in almost ten years I’ve not experienced that.
If you’ve had new tyres seems far too much of a coincidence. As others have said check bolts, pressures, weeping shocks (green ones indicate original monroes which are a known weak spot, though mine were fine at 100k), check top mounts - easy check, ARB’s. Agree best to get it on a ramp.
Good luck
I salute you for using this time of year.
Obviously try to get the car checked ASAP. Then, like the poster above, I recommend a booking a check over at Center Gravity. They worked wonders on my 993 which I purchased with 120k on the clock.
You probably know this already - do watch for black ice. A 993 and summer tyres are not a good combination with black ice. Snow is manageable unless you have to start on an incline.
You probably know this already - do watch for black ice. A 993 and summer tyres are not a good combination with black ice. Snow is manageable unless you have to start on an incline.
Thanks to all for the many replies - gotta love this site, full of helpful people! Sorry I went quiet - poor signal where I was staying most of the time.
I had the car thoroughly checked over - v happy with the guy who looked it over (he came recommended). He's checked everything that's been mentioned by you all and found nothing sinister other than a bit of pressure difference between the fronts. As one of you has said, having just changed the tyres it's just too much of a coincidence to me.
The drive back down, was better, probably because I'm partly getting used to it and partly because having had it checked over I wasn't worried about a wheel coming off at 70mph... However it's still not right, so I'm putting it down to the tyres.
Now for the controversial admission, which I'm sure I'll be shot down in flames for... I got he tyres on Ebay to save a few quid as I'm not expecting to do massive miles in it as it's a second car. My thinking was part-worn premium has to be better than new budget brand if I'm going to go down that route. I know, you don't know the tyres' history and it's the only contact between you and the road etc etc, but I also think how many people buy a used car and immediately change all four tyres just because they don't know the tyres' history? None I'm guessing... Anyway, I think I'm going to just bite the bullet and put two new tyres on the front anyway to put my mind at rest and hopefully cure the issue - will let you know how I get on.
And to the salute for using it this time of year, thanks! Not the ideal car for Peak District and Cotswolds in the snow!!!
I had the car thoroughly checked over - v happy with the guy who looked it over (he came recommended). He's checked everything that's been mentioned by you all and found nothing sinister other than a bit of pressure difference between the fronts. As one of you has said, having just changed the tyres it's just too much of a coincidence to me.
The drive back down, was better, probably because I'm partly getting used to it and partly because having had it checked over I wasn't worried about a wheel coming off at 70mph... However it's still not right, so I'm putting it down to the tyres.
Now for the controversial admission, which I'm sure I'll be shot down in flames for... I got he tyres on Ebay to save a few quid as I'm not expecting to do massive miles in it as it's a second car. My thinking was part-worn premium has to be better than new budget brand if I'm going to go down that route. I know, you don't know the tyres' history and it's the only contact between you and the road etc etc, but I also think how many people buy a used car and immediately change all four tyres just because they don't know the tyres' history? None I'm guessing... Anyway, I think I'm going to just bite the bullet and put two new tyres on the front anyway to put my mind at rest and hopefully cure the issue - will let you know how I get on.
And to the salute for using it this time of year, thanks! Not the ideal car for Peak District and Cotswolds in the snow!!!
Ocho said:
Now for the controversial admission, which I'm sure I'll be shot down in flames for... I got he tyres on Ebay to save a few quid as I'm not expecting to do massive miles in it as it's a second car. My thinking was part-worn premium has to be better than new budget brand if I'm going to go down that route. I know, you don't know the tyres' history and it's the only contact between you and the road etc etc, but I also think how many people buy a used car and immediately change all four tyres just because they don't know the tyres' history? None I'm guessing... Anyway, I think I'm going to just bite the bullet and put two new tyres on the front anyway to put my mind at rest and hopefully cure the issue - will let you know how I get on.
And to the salute for using it this time of year, thanks! Not the ideal car for Peak District and Cotswolds in the snow!!!
Wow, you are brave! I was having a chat re tyres today with a fellow 993'er, he put non N rated Goodyear Eagle Asymetric F2's on last time, under £500 for 4, which is similar to what two Conti Sport 2's will be on mine, food for thought.And to the salute for using it this time of year, thanks! Not the ideal car for Peak District and Cotswolds in the snow!!!
Wow, again brave (but good on you)! I'm just jealous as mine's in storage 'til the garage is built
Ocho said:
Yes, P Zeros all round.
Are these N-rated?I know that N-rated is thought to be a Porsche fad among cognoscenti, but Porsche actually does test the tires on their different models before they put up their recommendations:
https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/news/so-testet...
(sorry only in German, but you'll get the idea)
I have yet to experience a Porsche that did not drive well with N-rated tires in normal road conditions. Tire technology might have moved on, but I have not the inclination nor there money to experiment until I have found better rubber then the N-rated.
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