[Mk2] [Turbo] handling problems mk2 rev 3 sw20 turbo

[whapit]

hello to all.. i hope i have posted this in the right secession..
i'm having handling problems with my 2.. car is very nervous on the road and i get a lot of feed back throw the steering wheel witch can be quite hairy at times.. if i hit a bump are a ruff part of the roar the car gets into a bit of a mess and i have to bring the car back into line and the faster you go the worse this gets. my front tires have been on for two years now and they are wearing OK and have plenty of tread.. i have tried a bigger steering wheel because the one that came with car was really small and i also softened up my suspension witch are Tein Streets . i have only owned the car for about 8 months and don't have it out much until now so i am slightly unfamiliar with the handling and wondering is this normal (if so i'm selling her). i no that mr2 go light at the front at high speeds but this is something else. makes you feel like you don't want to drive her hard.
thanks for taking the time to have a look at this and would be glad to here back from anyone with a solution.

[Peter Gidden]

Check:

Ball joints
Top mounts
Track rods
Track rod ends
Steering rack
Wheel alignment
All suspension and rack mounting bolts

[KarlBristol]

As above ^


It might just be me but I swear this is the third time this topic has come up in less than a week...

Is there any chance we can make a sticky based around car handling issues/vagueness/things to check and how to check them? It's clearly an issue a lot of people are having.

[whapit]

thanks for the replay.. can these items be checked at home. i dont mind working on the car, just a fue pointers on what to look out for, are even a link to the other posts on handling if this has an issue. thanks Marty

[Nic]

What size wheels are fitted and how low is the suspension set?

[jasongtr]

i had the same (ish) problem with my last rev3 turbo, i refreshed all the suspension so

new ball joints
coilovers/topmounts
poly bushed completely
and had a proper geometery setup and corner weights done

i cant obviously pinpoint what made the difference or if it was all of it in a small way but it drove like a different car, felt very planted afterwards


edit, i also changed from 17's which were heavy and ok tyres, to very lightweight 15's with decent tyres

[nickg07]

Do worn drop links make much difference?

[jasongtr]

just make it knock

[whapit]

thanks for the replay.. that sounds like a lot of money spent.. but need to something as its not much fun as it is.

[whapit]

What size wheels are fitted and how low is the suspension set?

17 on bord.. she has been set lo but cant say really how much as i did not get the work carried out. i could send you a photo but not sure how to do it on here.

[synXero]

Jack the car up and axel stand it.

Does the mounted wheel have lateral play in it? Grab hold and wriggle it.
Are the track rods loose, bent, bu88ered? Push and pull.
Are the struts properly secured at the top mount to chassis join? Inspect from above.
Are the wheel nuts properly tightened? If they weren't you're lucky you caught it.
How are the wheel studs? If they're loose your wheels could be all over the place.
Are the hub to strut bolts tight? Get two spanners, wrenches, or sockets.
Are the alloys buckled? Visually inspect inner barrels.


Just push and pull things and lever them if need be. You'll notice if something is up. Failing that, or indeed once you have found the culprit, get the geometry (re)done.

[whapit]

[quote="synXero"]Jack the car up and axel stand it.

Does the mounted wheel have lateral play in it? Grab hold and wriggle it.
Are the track rods loose, bent, bu88ered? Push and pull.
Are the struts properly secured at the top mount to chassis join? Inspect from above.
Are the wheel nuts properly tightened? If they weren't you're lucky you caught it.
How are the wheel studs? If they're loose your wheels could be all over the place.
Are the hub to strut bolts tight? Get two spanners, wrenches, or sockets.
Are the alloys buckled? Visually inspect inner barrels.
need be. You'll notice if something is up.
ok thanks for that.. is geometry four wheel alinement

[Nic]

What size wheels are fitted and how low is the suspension set?

17 on bord.. she has been set lo but cant say really how much as i did not get the work carried out. i could send you a photo but not sure how to do it on here.

The handling issues you are experiencing could be down to many factors, the easiest way to diagnose the issue would be to take the car to an experienced MR2 mechanic, get the car on a lift and thoroughly checked over underneath, it may cost you half an hour or so in labour but at least you'll be able to pinpoint what the issue is.

[twistedkrank]

It could be tramlining you are talking about, You get it if the front tyres are wider than standard. The car wants to follow the contours in the road.

[synXero]

A thought I've just had on this... If you can't see anything that looks funny, mr2s drive very very strangely under front wheel toe-in. Mine was sliding at 5mph. Very freaky.

[whapit]

well thanks for all the feed back on this. im thinking of fitting a set of PROTHANE TOTAL BUSHING KIT. i found a site on eBay sales them for a mk 2 jen 2. so i emailed them to ask would they suet a mk 2 gen 3 and this was his reply.

(USA Spec GEN 2 cars. If your countries Gen 3 is the Same car are the USA SPec GEN 2, then maybe yes. Your cars like like our USA Spec GEN 3 then NO.)

so i don't have a clue if they will do are not.. here is the link to the bushings

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200633643606?it ... 23&vxp=mtr

dose any one no if thes would do.. thanks Marty

[raptor95GTS]

pretty sure a GEN3 USA model is the same as ours which of course is the gen3 JDM but I'm sure someone will confirm it

[nickg07]

Having been there and done that...poly bushes are not the cure here.

[whapit]

Having been there and done that...poly bushes are not the cure here.

don't no what to do.. i like the way the car looks but i have bigger wheels and coil overs fitted and car lowered also.. this could be a big factor as in preveious posts and i must say this was all fitted to the car when i bought her.. the car has been on this forum before so if i can figure out how to post a photo or link to past history i will do for reference to wheels and suspension ride height.. thanks marty

[nickg07]

For me it was probably replacing the steering rack that madethe most aappreciable difference.

You need to get the car to someone like peter really for a diagnosis before throwing cash at random parts.

Fwiw mine handles poorly like yours tram lining and the steering kicked out of kilter but its sorted now and drives really well