almost one less GTR
Discussion
Hi guys: happy New Years to all my ciber friends in Ultima land. Today being new years day called for a put in the Ultima. Beautiful day in So Cal, 75 degrees not a cloud in the sky so I decided to take a trip over to the Rock Store on Mulholland Highway, in the mountains above Malibu. Great car history in the area lots of super fast bikes with a fair number of cars thrown in. Anyway cruising up Kanan towards the rock store Going 50 mph in a 45 mph zone and I noticed two mini vans pulled over on the right side of the road with women drivers reentering both, kids in each car. This should have been my first clue that all was not well as I approached the rear most van both drivers decided to execute a u turn from the right shoulder of the road, of course there was a center lane available that they could have pulled forward and utilized but why oh why would I expect rational thought from women drivers in minivans with kids. Full panic stop in the GTR CLOSE but no collision. What did surprise me is that the backs locked up first and the car rotated a bit to the left. I haven't really got after the brakes in this manned since the last time the car was at the track and it was fine then. My immediate plan is to change brake fluid,its 3 years old longer then I usually run it, bleed the brakes and see if that helps. If that doesn't work I think pulling the rotors and giving them a good look at would be next in order. We get to retain our balance bar function here so after all is done maybe some adjustment there.
I bring all this up because the brakes in the Ultima are so good that I think maybe the only time this would have shown up was in a full panic stop. yes I know about threshold braking and believe me that's what my intention was, but when this system has this kind of a underlying problem that technique becomes problematic. So my advice, go find a deserted road and jump on the brakes to the point of lock up you might find something you did not know about. Hopefully you will just get the ordinary 2 gees on the shoulder harness reminder of how good these cars stop. Lee
I bring all this up because the brakes in the Ultima are so good that I think maybe the only time this would have shown up was in a full panic stop. yes I know about threshold braking and believe me that's what my intention was, but when this system has this kind of a underlying problem that technique becomes problematic. So my advice, go find a deserted road and jump on the brakes to the point of lock up you might find something you did not know about. Hopefully you will just get the ordinary 2 gees on the shoulder harness reminder of how good these cars stop. Lee
It would be sensible to try a few stops safely on an empty stretch of road before doing anything - it could have simply been down to the road surface.
If, when you were on track, you pumped your damping up, it could make a difference to the braking performance, resulting in what you have described.
If, when you were on track, you pumped your damping up, it could make a difference to the braking performance, resulting in what you have described.
As far as words go, I try to remember all the stupid things Ive done over the years and not get to quick with the verbal as long as the offender looks like they realize they screwed up, which the lady I was setting a few feet from at the end, did.
The thought about having the valving stiffer which it was when I was at the track is interesting and the next time out I will run the dampeners up to full stiff and look at the results. Thanks for that input, I really hadn't given that any thought. Lee
The thought about having the valving stiffer which it was when I was at the track is interesting and the next time out I will run the dampeners up to full stiff and look at the results. Thanks for that input, I really hadn't given that any thought. Lee
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