FD Seeker

Well, I guess this was bound to happen. I was overconfident and ignorant and made a big mistake.

I was entering the freeway from one of those long circular onramps. I was in 2nd gear, and I wasn't going overly fast. However, in the last bit of curve as I'm basically paralell to the freeway lanes I hit the gas. Big freakin mistake. The tail got loose and wagged a bit toward the freeway lanes (left). I tried corrective steering, but must have overdone it because the next thing I know, I'm tail happy in the other direction BUT WORSE. More (dumb) steering keeps me helplessly spinning around Fortunately I'm overall heading toward the right shoulder instead of out into the traffic. After one complete 360, right as I'm about to stop spinning my front right tire hits the curb. DUMB ***!!!!!!! I limped slowly home about 2 miles with a very slight tire screeching sound because of an obvious misalignment. Now when I'm going straight my steering wheel is turned left about a third of a turn!!

Of course things could've been much worse. I'm sure everyone thinks they're a better driver than me - and after today, who am I to argue. In any case, hopefully you all let MY lesson keep YOU in check a bit. I for one am going to cool off and be much more careful. I'll prolly consider a race driving school.

So: My right front rim looks basically fine (still circular!) but about a fourth of the outer rim edge has asphalt scuff on it. Worse yet, the wheel is pointing in a little different direction than the other AND it's angeled in a little at the bottom.

Anyone have any idea what the repairs for this mess might include?
Anyone have a stock FD rim in good condition they're willing to sell?

to_slow

iTrader: (3)

Well all i got to say is that rx are very hard to control when it comes to spining out . https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...threadid=44833

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

Not that this is going to answer your questions, but I'm not sure how long you've had your FD, but it's always a good idea to take a new car (at least new to you) out into an open parking lot and let loose on it.

See how the car will react to sliding and such so when it happens in traffic areas (or anywhere) you aren't surprised and can recover.

DeNguyen

Completely agreed... a parking lot is the best place to start learning your car. (without spending massive amounts of $$)


anyway, sorry to hear about your accident. hope you get it repaired and back on the the road soon.

Trexthe3rd

Word to the wise:

If the wheels break loose,
Let go of the GAS man!!

Unless it is wet, there is no way you could have done all that unless you kept your foot on the gas.

Four wheel alignment: Cost $ 40-60
A new FD wheel: $ 60-80
Throttle control: PRICELESS

FD Seeker

Can't say as I exactly remember... but you're probably right.

FD Seeker

Initially I think I kept on it a bit thinking it was going to be just a little drift (not thinking rationally). After the first oversteer, I'd like to think I let off, but I can't say EXACTLY that I remember. You're probably right.

DeNguyen

what i notice about driving alot of FDs' is that the car corrects itself TOO easily...

FD Seeker

The car is new to me. And I do intend to get the much needed parking-lot practice you mentioned.

nocab72

yup, the FD certainly likes to snap herself back into line. I'm currently training myself to "correct" less and just relax my hands on the wheel. when the tail wags a bit, if I just relax she likes to "snap" right back into line...definately NOT like my old 5.0 was...

K

Ninjak

Yeah, i agree with what trexthe3rd said, you can be a genious driver and know how to do every kind of turn and you can know how to drive the car on two wheels but if you dont know how to let off the gas than why are you even driving at all? LET OFF THE GAS THE SECOND YOU FEEL OUT OF CONTROL.... when your cars on fire do you slam the gas to make the wind put it out? bad example but you know what i mean
Huy

nocab72

Ya, this picture totally sucks because the camera totally sucks, but at least you didn't do THIS to your wheel...

Back in college I spun my 5.0, hopped a curb, and BUSTED a portion of my wheel off! Amazingly enough I didn't blow the tire off the rim, even with a piece of the lip that large missing!

this was down near OSU campus and the ppl's front yard I ended up in had terror in their face as I think they thought I was coming right through their kitchen glass sliding door! Instead I just dug a couple of big ruts in their front yard...

k

Toadman

In boost, lifting completely off the gas in mid-powerslide will shift the weight forward and bring the *** around like a Porsche 911. Unless you like tilt-a-whirl's it's not advisable.

thatoneguy

Even if your rim looks ok, it probably is not. It may wobble just a little. Take it to a tire shop and get it balanced. Also the way you described your wheel alignment sounds like you need a new lower control arm or upper control arm or both. Jack up your car and take a look at it.

to_slow

iTrader: (3)

Is it this bad ?

Fritz Flynn

iTrader: (263)

I doubt your a bad driver your just not used to the sudden surge of power these cars are capable of when cornering. Like you suggested just like practice in some empty parking lots - driver school etc...I have certainly spun out a # of times but have been fortunate not to do any damage. My one tip would be to anticipate the oversteer and at the slightest hint counter steer just enough to stop the slide and it will come back on its own ( sometimes letting of the gas isn't enough and I think this may have been one of those times). The only problem is it feels so good to have the rear hanging out there that sooner or later you loose control. If you still need a wheel I will sell you one for 75 plus shipping. Sorry about the accident and good luck getting her back together.

Flybye

You should CERTAINLY have a shop look at it to hit a curve hard enough to bend a wheel. The alignment points may be out of whack

Lost Time

Unfortunately it's not as simple as "just letting off the gas the second you feel out of control." If you have the rear end hung out and you let off the gas, you will IMMEDIATELY be facing the wrong direction. All the weight will shift foward, unloading the rear end. If there is room on both sides of you and you just want to stop then fine, let off the gas and stand on the brakes. You will come to a fairly quick stop, but you will have NO directional control.

As a general guideline, you should never apply the gas OR brakes quickly mid-turn. Both will usually get you out of shape. Especially if it's wet out. Just be judicious with the gas and brake pedal and you should stay facing the right direction.

A-Spec

guess only a few ppl actually know what to do when you start sliding....NEVER let of the gas! but instead ease off and use steering to control your direction. This is a reason why most cars out there are FWD these days....

David

Enthu

iTrader: (1)

When I first got my Fd, the previous owner had completely spent the front tires. I was taking it out for my first drive heading to Minneapolis down 94. I knew the tires were bad, and was not planning on any hard cornering. I was driving a straight line at 75MPH when suddenly the rear the rear came around, and had me facing and head to the left barrier on the freeway. all I did was give the throttel back a bit, not letting off completely, because that would put me right into the wall, and corrected a bit, I was amazed how the car got right back in line. I think I went over a small puddle or something, becasue it made no sense how this happened. Anyway, I owe my cars condidtion to my countless hour of playing Need for speed driving an fd, and Gran Turismo. If you can't get to a parking lot to test it, just play a hell of alot of video games. And make sure you keep your treads fresh and soft.

mazdaspeed00

iTrader: (6)

FD Seeker

Dont feel so bad I did the exact same thing 2 nights ago. Except it was in my GSR. Damn thing dosent handle nearly as well as my FD. Anyway im about to take my car into the shop. I think i bent my lower control arm. Luckly acura parts are cheap. anyway good luck with the FD. I hope shes alright.

FD Seeker

Not saying I really know, but I'm inclined to agree with whoever says EASE off the gas - rather than cut it completely. Sounds like minor steering corrections is best too.

I haven't jacked the car up yet, but I bet at least the lower control arm is bent. Something is bent! I fully itend to replace the wheel - no matter what. It looks like **** - and I would never trust it anyway.

Incidently, I have built an 11.0 sec RX in GT3 (no slicks), which I can handle fairly well. Unfortantely, I think that game gives everyone a little too much NEED FOR SPEED!

duckyjp

I got sideways trying to merge today in the wet. Make sure you drive around with a "feather foot" in the rain! I swung around almost sideways and while correcting for it swung the other way. I learned that corrective manuvers involve very slight calculated movements of the wheel and it really doesn't take that much turning to get her back on track. I was lucky to get her straight w/o hitting anything or getting hit. But really watch it in the rain! Scared the crap out of me.

daiSho

i spun my FD *one* time on wet roads w/ the stock wheels and tires... hit a brand-new Jeep Grand Cherokee and totalled it (hehe, only a new bumper needed for my FD, go figure)... the next week i bought new tires and rims, 10" wide for the rear set w/ negative camber, and have never lost grip again in the wet. the stock wheels and tires do not seems sufficient once you've done some performance mods...

3rdGenLuvr

Can you say Deja Vu?

Ur story is just about identical to mine about 2 weeks ago! Except I was getting off the highway and goin rather quickly arnd the jug handle. Its a right hander w/ a suggested speed limit of 25mph. Well Ive been arnd this ramp many times, I know where the bumps and pot holes are and I was trying to impress my buddy who hasnt really been in one of these cars before. Its a climbing righthander leading to the bridge that goes back over the highway w/ a slight crest at the very top of the turn.
Well DUMBASS me has been downloading waaaaaaay too many 'cool' car vids that include YEP you guessed it>>>DRIFTING! hahahehe not really! So my immature posterior has been getting this incredible urge to TRY hanging my rear out and thought right now is a good time, my longtime buddy wld get a kick out of it too! Right? WRONG! He damn nearly **** himself and thought he wasnt ever gonna see his precious 2 lil girls ever again. Ya know what? Ill NEVER ever be that stupid again in my life, I thank God nothing happened to either of us. Cars can always be repaired humans arent that easy. Wheeeew I got offtrack there for a sec there.
Anyway back to the mishap........I went in pretty fast at lets call it 6oclock, came off the throttle just a bit and started on the gas again at 9 oclock....everythngs cool its probably the fastest I ever took it (arnd 50+mph) the tires arent screeching or anythng like that so I thought its all good so I start getting on it some more well arnd 11-1130oclock (about where that lil crest was) my rear end SNAPPED out to the left!!!! (NO cars were arnd it was nighttime) Heres where I messed up......I came OFF the gas entirely (Ill give MO on why shortly) AND counter steered (a split sec later as we were facing the southbound lane of the highway we just got off) the car wanting to straighten out snapped BACK hard hitting it rear right wheel against the curb. And continued to turn counterclockwise will it stopped facing the wrong way. It never did a complete 360 in either direction. I think I had a stupid *** smile on my face too when we opened our eyes.....j/k.
The wheel was shot! It looked worse than that other guys wheel who posted above. Not only was there a chunk of the lip missing but the parts that were still attached were ground down. I kinda wish I took a pic of it...lol. The amazing thing is it didnt lose AIR like the other dude.

If ANYONE w/ performance driving experience reads this thread PLEASE set us stright! Im fairly new to performance driving, I usually saved those thrills for my 2 wheeled machines. IF hanging the rear end out on a car is anythng like motorcycles the LAST thing you wanna do when it steps out is get off the throttle. If anythng, modulate it. Ever see a bike highside on TV? Well thats from the guy getting off the gas. The rear tire goes from sideslipping(no traction) to rotating again (I want traction NOW). My guess cars react in the same manner. If Im wrong please set me straight! Had I not came completely off the gas I might of had a more 'controlled' slide rather than what occurred.

The internet is awesome in this regard.......Learn from others!!! And dont get so cocky thinking nothing will ever happen. And the most important part of all, dont put other ppls lives in jeapardy.

Be Safe guys!