unstable front end ???
 

Hello i had 2 short races and when i seem to hit uneven surface my front end tends to wiggle almost like it needs a steering damper like the ones used on motorcycles anyone who drives a bike should know what i mean. ANY ONE ELSE go through this ,do they have anything to help this sorry if this is a stupid question but aim a newbie

What you are probably picking up on is the tendancy of low profile tires to track into grooves in the road. I have OCCASIONALLY had the car track into grooves this way on various highways. It will cause the car to steer in a direction that you didn't intend so you have to pull it back.

If that isn't your problem, then I think that you should have it looked at to make sure that all the bushings in the links are in tact and that all is together because my car is stable as can be at pretty high rates of speed. A loose link, even a stabilizer bar, can cause a front end to wiggle all over the place.

Basically, I find the front end of my 8 to be extremely stable so other than the above I can't think of anything. Best of luck - H

I agree with Haze, my front end is also very stable. I also haven't had the problems associated with being pulled into ruts either.

Up until about 140MPH my frontend remains very well planted.

I have found the front end to be stable *except* under hard braking from high speeds on 2-lane roads, where there might be a slight crown to the road surface.

You might want to have your alignment checked if the problem seems severe.

As for steering dampers on bikes.. I always hated those things! Slow down the response and make turn-in heavy. Besides, a little front end activity is just the bike talkin to you! ;)

/likes twitchy TZ250 racebikes

I agree with Haze. I have had the same problem a few times but always at the same place in town where the grooves in the road are deeper than usual.

Interesting you should mention that - the only time so far that I've genuinely been in "oh sh*t" mode and have the car do anything other than what I expected it to do was heading down a two-lane desert (and deserted) road at about 115-120. I got momentarily distracted by sun in my eye, causing me to be a little later than anticipated in braking for the upcoming bend at the end of the long straight section. Consequently I braked a little harder than I would have liked and I felt the car rotate to the right slightly (and that ever so faint sound of tire squeal) when the upcoming corner was a left hander - oops. I managed to reel it in but it was certainly worth a few pucker points.

Other than that, the front of the car always heads in the direction I expect it to and feels very solid.

Simon.