Suspension/Wheels/Tires/Brakes

Troubleshooting help! Twitchy handling under breaking

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-22-10, 09:14 PM
  #1  
Spooling

Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
Nateness's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SoCal
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Troubleshooting help! Twitchy handling under breaking

Today I noticed that under breaking, the car will suddenly jerk to the side (could be left or right). Under normal driving, there does not seem to be this twitchiness.

Could this be due to a mis-alignment (toe-out)??

Has anyone experienced this issue before? If so, what did it turn out to be?

Thanks!

- Nate
Old 02-23-10, 09:10 AM
  #2  
Lives on the Forum

 
Kentetsu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Grand Rapids Michigan
Posts: 11,359
Received 14 Likes on 11 Posts
Okay, I'll assume we are discussing the '93 in your profile. Did this start suddenly?

Having the front end inspected/aligned, would probably be the place to start...



.
Old 02-23-10, 10:23 AM
  #3  
Moderator

iTrader: (3)
 
j9fd3s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
Posts: 30,826
Received 2,593 Likes on 1,842 Posts
check the tire pressures first.

second would be to look for loose/worn suspension parts, the FD develops play in the rear pillow bushings

third would be to align the thing. toe out in the rear will be unstable. front not as much
Old 02-23-10, 05:03 PM
  #4  
Been here since dirt...

 
gawdodirt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: AZ
Posts: 327
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Since it only happens under braking, maybe that would be a good place to start looking? Leaks, loose bearings, pad wear?
Which way does it shoot when you hit the brakes? Look to the side that does nothing.

GD

Last edited by gawdodirt; 02-23-10 at 05:12 PM.
Old 02-23-10, 11:40 PM
  #5  
Spooling

Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
Nateness's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SoCal
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Thank you everyone for pitching in with ideas. The symptoms did start suddenly (2 days ago). I jacked the car up tonight and found that one of the bolts that holds the driver's side upper control arm to the chassis was missing completely!

Three months ago a friend and I replaced all of the bushings with the ones provided in the SuperPro master kit. I also did all of the rear ball joints with OEM units. It looks like the bolt may have not been torqued properly, or at least it was not torqued again after the initial test drive (this is important!).

I temporarily put in the hardest grade of steel bolt available at the local hardware store and all symptoms have disappeared. Tomorrow morning I will be ordering a new OEM bolt/nut from Ray at Malloy. I will also be checking the torque on as much of the suspension as I can get to.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Turblown
Vendor Classifieds
12
10-17-20 03:25 PM
Aramir
New Member RX-7 Technical
24
10-18-15 02:39 AM
93FD510
New Member RX-7 Technical
2
10-01-15 02:00 PM



Quick Reply: Troubleshooting help! Twitchy handling under breaking



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:17 PM.