So I Spun Out Again - Wtf Is Going On?

[tripsteady]

Hey Guys

Car: 1997 R33 S2 GTST

Tyres : 265's x9 rear and 235 x 8.5 front and decent tyres as well

Suspension : Pedders Coilovers

Ok so im under no impression that im a great driver by any means but now I spin out ALOT.

I span two weeks ago ( a full 180degree spin) when going around the roundabout in the wet. I went around it quite slowly(factoring in that it was wet and in driving a rwd car) but I still span out. It took me by surprise as I was being cautious and didnt expect this so I span without correcting . Was doing about 40km/h.... first thought was I hydroplaned....

Yesterday it was pouring again , remembering my last experience I went even slower this time , but wasnt taking a right like before and was going straight through the roundabout , so a slight turn of the steering wheel was all that was needed. I was doing about 35km/h. Without warning after i turned , the back end slipped out,this time i was more prepared....so i corrected but my god that took me by surprise.

I dont feel i have the skills to get myself out of trouble should this happen again with traffic around....

What would be cause this to happen? Coil overs? My missus car can go straight through a roundabout in the rain doing 40km and not spin out....why is the line so shit in rainy weather....to the point of being dangerous

This has only started happening since i got coilovers(which virtually eliminated body roll)...im quite sure that the act that I have a much lower center of gravity has something to do with it but how exactly... whats the physics behind this? I assumed having no body roll was a good thing , but now in the wet I have to take corners slower!

And what can I do to avoid slipping out in the wet all the dam time - already have fat 265's in the rear

Cheers

[10 4]

265s in rain = fun times

[GTR-N1]

Hey Guys

Car: 1997 R33 S2 GTST

Tyres : 265's x9 rear and 235 x 8.5 front and decent tyres as well

Suspension : Pedders Coilovers

This has only started happening since i got coilovers...

Cheers

This must be totally unnerving for you whilst you have a car that would predictably corner much better than most.

Obviously you had Pedders supply and fit these coilovers?

Did they tighten everything up?

Have you had your wheels realigned by them too?

Did they do a complimentary multipoint check?

[Daleo]

It sounds like there's basically no weight transfer at all in your set up.

If your springs & shocks are too stiff; you'll get no warning when it's about to break away.

No body roll is not necessarily a recipe for good handling; there has to be some compliance; otherwise the car won't absorb any bumps, it just bounces over them.

No wheel on the ground; no traction from that wheel. Doesn't matter how wide your tyres are then.

Do the coilovers have adjustable damping? What are the spring rates?

[R31Nismoid]

I'm better you have poor tyres combined with suspension too hard makes for a difficult life.

I could drive my GTS-R in pissing rain, with 245/255s on the rear and 370rwkw - not having an issue at all with spinning out. The suspension was as hard as a rock with virtually no movement in it at all (12/10kg springs). Difference was I was spending $300 a tyre.

[Hattori Hanzo 69]

tires mate, i used to have the same issue with my XR8 i always had cheap rear tires as they never lasted long

also make the coil overs softer all round one or 2 clicks.

[Hadouken]

My money is on shit tyres. What are they?

Pedders coilovers arent harder than some jap spec ones. So Im declined to blame that.

My mates 32 had a problem with spinning around spontaneously, but his hicas light was intermittently on. So we blamed that.

But for you, Get some better tyres. Or go and do a defensive driving course, as you will hurt yourself or worse others. You need to learn to drive that thing.

Do you accelerate out of the roundabout when this spin around occurs?

[warps]

When you think about it, 40km/h is bloody fast on a tight roundabout.

Skinny tyres are far better in the wet. Wide, cheap, worn tyres in the wet will grip as much as a bucket of eels in whale snot.

[Miguelone]

My taxi used to get pretty tail happy in the wet.. before it had a rear swaybar.

[DarkRyda]

Front and rear strut brace and sway bars make a huge difference and some great set of tyres.

[The Bogan]

Wheel alignment ?

How much camber do you have on the rear ?

Stiff suspension, lots of camber/bad alignment and hard tyres could be causing this problem.

[BakemonoRicer]

Wouldn't be suprised if someone has taken the swaybars off the car.

Also, get under the car and have a look at the chassis rails and make sure theyre nice and straight.

[zebra]

Wouldn't be suprised if someone has taken the swaybars off the car.

Also, get under the car and have a look at the chassis rails and make sure theyre nice and straight.

maybe who ever did that threw them over a Nissan Dealer

[Hadouken]

maybe who ever did that threw them over a Nissan Dealer

qft

[LANDSCRIBBLE]

Are those 19's you have on there? And yea cheap tyres wouldnt help.

[starwarz]

My liner was shit in the wet, used to slide stupidly without wanting to but nothing some counter steer wont fix,

changed to Federal 595RSR's and its been sticking very well im comfortable enough in the wet to

give it some where i wouldn't have before.

[GTR32G]

As above tyres would be first thing to change if they are cheap ones on the car, also check your diff make sure somone has not attacked it with a mig...

[R31Nismoid]

Wouldn't be suprised if someone has taken the swaybars off the car.

Also, get under the car and have a look at the chassis rails and make sure theyre nice and straight.

Taking the swaybars off will actually let the car float around a little more.

I know a few GT-R owners who will drop/loosen the front swaybar if it's really wet at a track day to get more weight moving

[RB25PWR]

Front and rear strut brace and sway bars make a huge difference and some great set of tyres.

These stiffen the car up, especially with stiffer/upgraded rear sway bar, which tends to reduce under steer thus promoting over steer.

90% of it sounds like your skill as a driver. Skylines are tail happy cars, poor tyres, wide tyres, and stiff suspension definitely won't help. But they're just tail happy by design.

Tips: Corner as smooth as you can, don't jerk the steering wheel (I'm sure you're not JERKING it per say, but just try and be more smooth); and practice smooth throttle control. It'll still be a little difficult to control as stated above they're just a tail happy car. But in the wet you simply just have to have to drive like a grandma. Smooth throttle, smooth steering and you'll be fine.

There also becomes a point where wide tyres don't help you in the wet, I'm not sure of the exact threshold... but yeah there becomes a point where it's actually detrimental for grip in the wet.

edit: Or just buy an AWD car.

Edited August 24, 2012 by RB25PWR

[Tai1or Made]

But in the wet you simply just have to have to drive like a grandma. Smooth throttle, smooth steering and you'll be fine.

Or just buy an AWD car.

This.

I went from driving a WRX to a Skyline and knew nothing of the oversteer.

After you realise how little throttle you need to get all Tokyo Drift, you adjust your driving style.

So in conclusion.