Cornering question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,719
Likes: 1
From: Florida
St. Jude Donor '07
Cornering question
Is this normal? While I am taking an entrance ramp on to the highway, if I let off the gas the car waits to straighten out, but as long as I accelerate it stays tight into the corner. It feels like some bushings are loose in the rear suspension. What do you guys think? Is this normal? 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Midland TX
I'm not sure I understand your question.
What do you mean "the car waits"? The steering doesn't straighten out?
Cars handle differently when accelerating and decelerating.
When approaching a corner, you brake (or decelerate) to shift the weight forward. This puts more force on the front tires for turning.
Then you turn into the corner. Hold speed constant with throttle until you can accelerate out of the corner.
Try taking a curve first with your foot off the gas (coasting), then try it holding constant speed (a little throttle), then try it holding constant speed and then accelerating out of the curve. See how differently your car handles.
I hate it when people brake in the middle of a curve. The car handles like crap because they are coasting, then they hit their brakes and it really is bad for taking the curve.
Have you checked your alignment?
How many miles are on your Vette?
What do you mean "the car waits"? The steering doesn't straighten out?
Cars handle differently when accelerating and decelerating.
When approaching a corner, you brake (or decelerate) to shift the weight forward. This puts more force on the front tires for turning.
Then you turn into the corner. Hold speed constant with throttle until you can accelerate out of the corner.
Try taking a curve first with your foot off the gas (coasting), then try it holding constant speed (a little throttle), then try it holding constant speed and then accelerating out of the curve. See how differently your car handles.
I hate it when people brake in the middle of a curve. The car handles like crap because they are coasting, then they hit their brakes and it really is bad for taking the curve.
Have you checked your alignment?
How many miles are on your Vette?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 543
From: Sarasota FL
St. Jude Donor '25-'26
Try this. Enter a freeway cloverleaf at little fast but not fast enough were you have to use the brakes. Set up the turn, do not move the steering wheel, with very slight throttle increase the car will push out, and slightly backing off the throttle the car will pull into the turn. I think it is great fun to steer the car around a cloverleaf with nothing more than the throttle. Very reponsive car.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 730
Likes: 45
From: kansas city mo.
I was going into clover leaf at 55 and a car was on my back bumper,so I brough it up to 65 and the other car could not keep up. when I got to the top of the bridge I back off to 55mph.(speed limit) This car pull even with my drivers door and stays there. Good thing I could see the side of his car because it had no lite bar, just police. I think he was just having fun but he couldn't keep up with me on the clover leaf. I smiled and he waved as he went bye.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 6
From: Los Angeles
I drive my car like I drive my motorcycle... similar principles apply. Do most of your braking on the straight before entering a turn. Slight braking in the first 1/3 of the turn (or trailbraking for a bike) or decel coasting. Then maintainence throttle until the apex (middle). Maintenence throttle is just holding the engine at speed...not accelerating or decelerating. After the apex, roll on the throttle out of the turn. Basically a steady increase in throttle, don't stab it. It keeps the load off the front end during a turn.
And always remember to look where you want to go, not where the car is pointed.
Braking through the whole turn, in the middle of a turn etc, really makes the car handle poopy.
These principles aren't as crucial as they are with a motorcycle... but they still work. There's a lot of fudge room when you have four huge tires to slide around on.
And always remember to look where you want to go, not where the car is pointed.
Braking through the whole turn, in the middle of a turn etc, really makes the car handle poopy.
These principles aren't as crucial as they are with a motorcycle... but they still work. There's a lot of fudge room when you have four huge tires to slide around on.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
I was going into clover leaf at 55 and a car was on my back bumper,so I brough it up to 65 and the other car could not keep up. when I got to the top of the bridge I back off to 55mph.(speed limit) This car pull even with my drivers door and stays there. Good thing I could see the side of his car because it had no lite bar, just police. I think he was just having fun but he couldn't keep up with me on the clover leaf. I smiled and he waved as he went bye.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
You didn't post if you had any of the suspension components replaced in your car. At over 150,000 miles I would imagine the shocks, bushings, springs and tie rod ends are all past their useful lives.
Worn bushings in the A-arms will allow the car to want to turn a little as you apply and/or let off the gas.
Worn bushings in the A-arms will allow the car to want to turn a little as you apply and/or let off the gas.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,719
Likes: 1
From: Florida
St. Jude Donor '07
You didn't post if you had any of the suspension components replaced in your car. At over 150,000 miles I would imagine the shocks, bushings, springs and tie rod ends are all past their useful lives.
Worn bushings in the A-arms will allow the car to want to turn a little as you apply and/or let off the gas.
Worn bushings in the A-arms will allow the car to want to turn a little as you apply and/or let off the gas.
