Strange Handling

[Anonymous]

I am after a little advice. I have just bought a 51 plate smt that seems to have a strange handling characteristic. If I accelerate in the higher gears from a steady cruising speed, the car twitches then settles (Requiring me to compensate with a dab of corrective steering). It does the same when I lift off the accelerator. It is not significant enough to feel dangerous, just does not feel right! Is this normal, a torque reaction due to the transverse engine layout, or something totally different?

For your info. The car tracks straight and true is running nearly new Goodyear f1's and the "Factory" pressure settings. I also had the car engineer inspected prior to the purchase, so I am confident that it has not had any major accident damage.

Any advice will be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

John

[GSB]

Sounds like a check of all the rear suspension bushings and alignement is in order...

The force applied to the suspension bushes under load (i.e. hard acceleration) will cause them to flex.  Lifting off the throttle reverses the torque loadings on them, and casues them to flex in the opposite direction. If they are worn, this flex allows the suspemsion geometry to change under different loads, a symptom of which is the effect you describe.

It could just be the alignment however. If its slightly out, the thrust angle will be off centre, and this will also casue the symptoms you describe.

So, have a 4 wheel alignment done. (not just a tracking check - a proper alignment of caster, camber, toe etc on all 4 wheels.)

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info. Will go for the 4 wheel alignment initialy and see if that cures the problem.
I dont suppose you could suggest any one in the Leeds area who will do this and knows what they are doing?? If not will find one in the Yellow pages.

John

[Anonymous]

If you're anywhere near Wakefield then Gordons tyres did mine and they were very good.

- They also don't charge if they find its not out.

[Anonymous]

I had exactly the same symptoms as you.

The car appeared to track normally, but (especially at high speed) the car would stray to the right under acceleration.

It was due to a bunch of idiots who call themselves mechanics and who obviously did not have a clue on how to ajust wheel geometry and alignment... (The garage was a "Feu Vert" -- a French version of Kwik Fit.)

Subsequently the problem was clearly identified (incorrect alignment resulting in a large thrust angle) and corrected by a professional who's got a lot of experience in wheel alignments, etc.

He also was *cheaper* than the idiots at the other garage!!   s:roll: :roll: s:roll:

[Anonymous]

Just another tip:

The place I got my wheel geometry and alignment done had a database (in their machine) that contained data for the Euro spec MR2 Roadster but also for the (original) Japanese MR-S (+/- same car, different names)...

However, upon close inspection of the data provided by the system, we discovered that the Japanese MR-S set of figures had much narrower margins of error that the Euro specs.

The expert used the more accurate MR-S data because (as he put it) "it's a sports car not a Yaris".