Handling issue......
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 792
Likes: 19
From: ME
Handling issue......
Hey friends,
I noticed an odd charactaristic of my car the other day on a highway on-ramp. This on ramp is a reasonably tight, constant radius, sloping upwards 90 degree turn. Basically half way through this turn (accelerating at about 2/3 throttle) I shift from 2nd into 3rd. So, while the weight of the car shifted during this gear change the whole car sort of wiggles front to back (in your head just imagine what the car is doing).
I have track experience, so I know how far is too far, but I wished the car was a little more planted. I'm thinking probably upgrading to a Z06 rear spring and maybe bilstein shocks will minimize this instability.... Has anyone else noticed this? Comments? Or even better yet, anyone in the Portland Maine area have a Z06 that I can compare with on this on ramp!!?!
I noticed an odd charactaristic of my car the other day on a highway on-ramp. This on ramp is a reasonably tight, constant radius, sloping upwards 90 degree turn. Basically half way through this turn (accelerating at about 2/3 throttle) I shift from 2nd into 3rd. So, while the weight of the car shifted during this gear change the whole car sort of wiggles front to back (in your head just imagine what the car is doing).
I have track experience, so I know how far is too far, but I wished the car was a little more planted. I'm thinking probably upgrading to a Z06 rear spring and maybe bilstein shocks will minimize this instability.... Has anyone else noticed this? Comments? Or even better yet, anyone in the Portland Maine area have a Z06 that I can compare with on this on ramp!!?!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 72
From: Upstate NY
Are you running the stock Runflats? I noticed a world of difference in handling between the OEM runcraps and aftermarket softer non-runflats. Also, as you stated, shifting mid-turn and letting off the throttle shifts the weight of the car. That might have had something to do with it.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
1) Get rid of the run flats if you have them
2) Don't shift mid-corner. If you have been to the track you should know that is a bad thing to do. It upsets the balance of the car and can cause bad things to the car.
Chris
2) Don't shift mid-corner. If you have been to the track you should know that is a bad thing to do. It upsets the balance of the car and can cause bad things to the car.
Chris
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
From: Antioch, CA
A car that wiggles front to back sounds like a balanced car that has been upset to me... Better to hold off on the shift till you can get on it, or skip the down shift/upshift early before the corner. If the car was hooked up before you shifted, it was a driver input that cause your problem. 
Originally Posted by 01vetteC5
i dont know about all that maybe its because u shifted to hard or soemthing of the sort --
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 792
Likes: 19
From: ME
Good points guys... I hadn't realized that shifting in a hard corner was a no-no really, and I'm suprised I didn't do that on the track and have an instructor scold me for it! Well, today on my way home from work, I went through that corner again and held the gear longer, though the corner and no troubles.
.....But I still want bilstein shocks, Z06 rear spring and swaybars with metal end links and and and and.....!!!
.....But I still want bilstein shocks, Z06 rear spring and swaybars with metal end links and and and and.....!!!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
Originally Posted by servohead
Good points guys... I hadn't realized that shifting in a hard corner was a no-no really, and I'm suprised I didn't do that on the track and have an instructor scold me for it! Well, today on my way home from work, I went through that corner again and held the gear longer, though the corner and no troubles.
.....But I still want bilstein shocks, Z06 rear spring and swaybars with metal end links and and and and.....!!!
.....But I still want bilstein shocks, Z06 rear spring and swaybars with metal end links and and and and.....!!!
There are always exceptions, but I have video of me spinning a Formula Doge. I took my foot too quickly off the brake while trail braking.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 72
From: Upstate NY
Originally Posted by chaase
At racing school we were taught that you don't do anything mid-corner except turn. Do all braking and gear shifting before you hit the corner.
There are always exceptions, but I have video of me spinning a Formula Doge. I took my foot too quickly off the brake while trail braking.
There are always exceptions, but I have video of me spinning a Formula Doge. I took my foot too quickly off the brake while trail braking.
I learned the hard way not to let off the gas and brake in a turn....in the "laces" part of the boot at Watkins Glen. My instructor just about shat himself as the car was a bit sideways mid-way through the turn. I give him credit, he didn't scream like a girl (I did) and he calmly said "OK, I'm sure you know what you did incorrectly there. Let's do better next time through that turn." Going back in 3 weeks. Can't wait!!!!
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 72
From: Upstate NY
Originally Posted by servohead
.....But I still want bilstein shocks, Z06 rear spring and swaybars with metal end links and and and and.....!!!
We all share your disease....and these are the MA (modaholics anonymous) meetings we must attend daily to help ourselves
