Anybody else's car "floats"?
10-12-06, 07:45 PM
#1
Whatsa Rotor?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Abilene, Texas
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anybody else's car "floats"?
Just put new shocks and struts on and took the car out for a spin. Now, granted I've never got above 105 mph because of crappy struts, but the other day I did. And at 110 the car is very dangerous. I actually "floated" about halfway in the other lane! (We interrupt this story to remind you that these "test" were conducted on a safe, remote, empty and rather lonely stretch of highway). The car is completly wild above 105. What in the hell would cause this when it drives like it should (straight) at 70 mph? Is God just trying to tell me to stop it!
10-12-06, 07:54 PM
#6
What rev limiter!?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Streamwood
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LOL open your hood going that fast! I swaer to god the HOOD "floats" like 6 inches off the body, since it opens backwards it will never blow all the way open! But seriously, do you have stock tires? 'cause i think my car did that same thing when i had stock tires on it. I think maybe they balloon out like top-fuel cars rear tires do when they spin them real fast. Just a guess though, i don't know for sure. It also wouldn't hurt to check your alignment right? Also just a guess though...man am i useless or what?
Trending Topics
10-12-06, 07:59 PM
#8
Its probably a combination of the 158 000 mile old steering componants (unless they were replaced), and the far from aerodynamic front end. A headwind or wind hitting the side of the car at those speeds is definately enough to push a car around prety good too and make it feel floaty. I know when I changed all the loose ends of my suspension my car tracked 100 times better at speeds on a calm day...but if the wind is howlin it doesnt really matter what shape your suspension/steering componants are in, your still gonna get pushed around like a leaf. Take a look at any car built to drive those kinda speeds and youll probably find a nice front end on them designed to increase the downforce, and most likely a wing on the back too (for the same reason). Those items will definately make the difference when your flyin down the road, because your tires will definately have more traction making the car more prone to go where you point it.
10-12-06, 08:01 PM
#9
Whatsa Rotor?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Abilene, Texas
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No BUT the tires are cheapo Lehmans or something the previous owner put on. Ummm.... didn't think about the speedrating!!!! Its probably 85 mph or so lol. What about the balljoints and such? It almost feels as if the air under the car sort of lifts it. Or maybe because of the manual steering? What sucks is all the guys say "damn, those 7's are worth at least 130-140 mph, how fast you been?" Well, uh 110 
10-12-06, 08:04 PM
#10
Terrified.
Yeah, buy a front air dam if you plan on going up over 100 mph. I don't know why you would be unless you were on a race track with a long enough straight to do 100 mph, but regardless of where you do it at, because of the shape, the front end has a definite lift to it. Also was this lift after you put on your suspension or before? I would say that your new suspension should hold you to the ground a bit better than before you got the new suspension on.
10-12-06, 08:05 PM
#11
Whatsa Rotor?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Abilene, Texas
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Damn I'm a quick typer eh! Kinda sucks my gf's 98 eclipse feels like a brick on the road at 110, until the rev limiter kicks in, and I'm scared shitless to do 110 again!
10-12-06, 10:00 PM
#15
SoCal STi Hitman
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: In a paint booth
Posts: 880
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Replace your tie rods with some greasable one, get a good alignment. and if you can afford it, do as trochoid says and get a good under spoiler/front air dam.
Just swapping in new tie rods, and a new gear box with the -se suspension has made a HUGE difference. I can only imagine how good this would be with some nice tockicos all around and some racing beat springs. As it sits I have had mine up to 120 before I backed off.
Just swapping in new tie rods, and a new gear box with the -se suspension has made a HUGE difference. I can only imagine how good this would be with some nice tockicos all around and some racing beat springs. As it sits I have had mine up to 120 before I backed off.
10-12-06, 10:58 PM
#16
Originally Posted by linexrandy
Kinda sucks my gf's 98 eclipse feels like a brick on the road at 110, until the rev limiter kicks in, and I'm scared shitless to do 110 again!
10-12-06, 11:51 PM
#18
pistons do what?
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: TX
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I cant figure out this floating thing, I toped out my seven last week at around 126 and it felt as solid is it did at 70. The spedo went to 137 @ 6400 lol, I have 215/50-13 tires tho.
10-13-06, 12:13 AM
#19
Full Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Woodstock GA
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
wow at 110 it was floating. i took my 84 gsl up to 120 and as long as i didnt try to change lanes it was alright on stock suspensi0n a couple of new bushings strut bar and toyo proxy t1rs on 15's
10-13-06, 08:14 AM
#20
Waffles - hmmm good
iTrader: (1)
No air dam, cheap tires, old springs, and old bushings == scary.
Get better tires rated for that speed and update all the bushings on the front/rear and get some new springs. This car is 20+ years old, you think just new struts and shocks are going to make that big of a difference. Its a suspension system, meaning all the parts interact and they all have to be at or above spec to get the best performance.
I don't have an air dam but I do have RB springs and new struts and shocks along with new ploy bushings front and rear where it makes sense and the car is pretty stable over 105, but I can tell it needs an air dam at that speed. I don't have one because I don't very often get up to that speed so its not an issue.
Get better tires rated for that speed and update all the bushings on the front/rear and get some new springs. This car is 20+ years old, you think just new struts and shocks are going to make that big of a difference. Its a suspension system, meaning all the parts interact and they all have to be at or above spec to get the best performance.
I don't have an air dam but I do have RB springs and new struts and shocks along with new ploy bushings front and rear where it makes sense and the car is pretty stable over 105, but I can tell it needs an air dam at that speed. I don't have one because I don't very often get up to that speed so its not an issue.
10-13-06, 08:44 AM
#23
Scream baby Scream!!!
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Warrenton, VA.
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Before I revamped my 7, it would do the same thing. Now with new tires, front air dam, weight of the intercooler, staggered front and rear tire and wheel tire sizes, I have run with 06 Vettes on the interstate at 150+ with no lifting and the car was solid. With stock front end, you will need the small 13" tires with good suspension and the underpan to keep the drag quoaficiant negative under the car and positive over the car.
10-13-06, 10:22 AM
#25
I'll get'r done someday
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Saskatoon, SK
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
99 in a jeep wrangerl eh, try 100mph in a 1974 datsun 610 station wagon with tires that were on it for how many years, but they looked like new.... it actaully wasn't too bad the wonder steer, but the fact taht the car was almost 30 years old and the brake pads were down to the steel it was pretty scary, and it had more to go but i ran out of runway and there was a car ahead of me. I must say it burned off tires pretty good though hehe.
BTW 105-110 mph in the 7 is pretty wild if you just have stock 20+ year old steering and suspension components.
BTW 105-110 mph in the 7 is pretty wild if you just have stock 20+ year old steering and suspension components.