Handling problems solved

[Gerard van Santen]

Over the last year I had big handling problems on track. I couldn't find the proper solution. For street use there were no serious issues. But on the track my NSX oversteered or understeered randomly. I tried everything possible. A lot of different set up's (wheels, tires, sway bars, different shocks, different heights (front and/or rear), wing adjustments etcccc....). But nothing seemed to solve the problem.

Last week I thought it had to do something with the differential and/or the driveshaft. So I started to disassemble the rear drive train. When I tried to pull off the left brake rotor I felt something was wrong with the wheel bearing. The wheel bearing seemed to be problem; to much clearence. After I changed it for a new one, I felt I had my NSX back :smile: So I am happy again.

 

[Gijs]

That's great, i know that feeling when you solve a problem. It feels like a birthday to me. Race save !

 

[goldNSX]

What I don't understand: Have you been on the track so far and checked how the new bearing behaved?

 

[Gerard van Santen]

What I don't understand: Have you been on the track so far and checked how the new bearing behaved?

I know what you mean. I haven't been on the track so far. But I have some twisty roads nearby and I noticed the big handling difference while hitting them real hard. I said in my first post that there were no serious issues for street use. The problem is, that you get used to this slowly getting worse handling of the car. So after I changed the broken wheel bearing I noticed a dramatic difference even off track on the public roads. Next week I will feel the difference on track.

 

[L8apex32]

One of the pre-event checks should include a wheel bearing and tie-rod end check.

To check tie-rods, grab the tire at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions and try to wiggle it. It should have very little play. Both front and rear wheels should be checked.

To check wheel bearings, you can't grab at 3 and 9 as that tests tie rod ends so... grab at 12 and 6. Try to wiggle. Should have extremely little wiggle on NSXes.

Cars driven on the track will wear out the wheel bearings eventually. Cars with transaxles like ours will wear out one side quicker than the other due to uneven driveline loads. I believe the NSX wears out the left rear quicker than right rear if my memory is working.

Check before each event when you are swapping wheels, bleeding brakes or anytime the car is jacked up. Takes just a second to do.

YMMV

 

[goldNSX]

I said in my first post that there were no serious issues for street use. The problem is, that you get used to this slowly getting worse handling of the car. So after I changed the broken wheel baring I noticed a dramatic difference even off track on the public roads. Next week I will feel the difference on track.

thanks for the info. Getting accustomed to it is like bad shocks. If you feel it even a road driving level then you don't have to test it for the track for me. :wink:

the wheel bearings are not a critical point in the NSX but as far as I know you're NSX has 3xxk km and that's the first time you've changed them, correct?

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[MvM]

Over the last year I had big handling problems on track. I couldn't find the proper solution. For street use there were no serious issues. But on the track my NSX oversteered or understeered randomly. I tried everything possible. A lot of different set up's (wheels, tires, sway bars, different shocks, different heights (front and/or rear), wing adjustments etcccc....). But nothing seemed to solve the problem.

Last week I thought it had to do something with the differential and/or the driveshaft. So I started to disassemble the rear drive train. When I tried to pull off the left brake rotor I felt something was wrong with the wheel baring. The wheel baring seemed to be problem; to much clearence. After I changed it for a new one, I felt I had my NSX back :smile: So I am happy again.

Hi Gerard,

I am very glad to hear that you have found the problem. Just wish you had been able to solve the problem before the Timeattack event, that might have changed the end results a LOT !!
Am wondering now, how do you find out or feel if the wheel bearings are still ok ??
Just for the last two weeks I have had a very nervous front end of the car which makes the car feel a little unstable at high speeds or on uneven roads. Had already planned to get my alignment checked out but I am wondering now if wheel bearings could be a possible cause.

 

[Gijs]

Hello Rotterdam, with my car it is very important to keep the front wheels balanced. Every now and than i feel a nervous front and the steering feels lichter at higher speeds. I also found out over the years that not everyone can balance wheels good, i mean really good. To get the best balance at my car they leaf them on the car to get it exactly right.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

One of the pre-event checks should include a wheel bearing and tie-rod end check.

To check tie-rods, grab the tire at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions and try to wiggle it. It should have very little play. Both front and rear wheels should be checked.

To check wheel bearings, you can't grab at 3 and 9 as that tests tie rod ends so... grab at 12 and 6. Try to wiggle. Should have extremely little wiggle on NSXes.

YMMV

This is the proper way to check this for sure, however, there should be NO play or wiggle, if there is, you must investigate it.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[Gerard van Santen]

Hi Gerard,

I am very glad to hear that you have found the problem. Just wish you had been able to solve the problem before the Timeattack event, that might have changed the end results a LOT !!
Am wondering now, how do you find out or feel if the wheel bearings are still ok ??
Just for the last two weeks I have had a very nervous front end of the car which makes the car feel a little unstable at high speeds or on uneven roads. Had already planned to get my alignment checked out but I am wondering now if wheel bearings could be a possible cause.

Hi Maarten,

You're right about the Timeattack:frown:

You can check the wheels like l8apex32 suggests. In my case I also heard a strange winding noise from my rear left. After changing the wheel bearing the noise had disappeared.

You can also check your tires. What you describe can also be the result of worn tires or bad wheel alignment. If your front wheels have to little toe out the NSX can behave unstable at high speeds.

Hello Rotterdam, with my car it is very important to keep the front wheels balanced. Every now and than i feel a nervous front and the steering feels lichter at higher speeds. I also found out over the years that not everyone can balance wheels good, i mean really good. To get the best balance at my car they leaf them on the car to get it exactly right.

If the wheels are out of balance you should feel it in your steering wheel. So I don't think the wheels are out of balance.

Maarten, do I see you at the Maartenmemorial in Rotterdam?

 

[MvM]

Hi Maarten,

You're right about the Timeattack:frown:

You can check the wheels like l8apex32 suggests. In my case I also heard a strange winding noise from my rear left. After changing the wheel bearing the noise had disappeared.

You can also check your tires. What you describe can also be the result of worn tires or bad wheel alignment. If your front wheels have to little toe out the NSX can behave unstable at high speeds.

Maarten, do I see you at the Maartenmemorial in Rotterdam?

Hi Gerard,

Yes, you will see me at the Maartenmemorial day in Rotterdam.

As for the unbalance, I suppose it's my alignment. My tires are practically new and the car just had it's yearly inspection with no problems. I just hope I have the time to check the alignment this week because I would like to avoid having to drive around in an unstable car at the Zandvoort track.

 

[Gerard van Santen]

Hi Gerard,

Yes, you will see me at the Maartenmemorial day in Rotterdam.

As for the unbalance, I suppose it's my alignment. My tires are practically new and the car just had it's yearly inspection with no problems. I just hope I have the time to check the alignment this week because I would like to avoid having to drive around in an unstable car at the Zandvoort track.

Maarten,

I have replied in this thread Can your alignment change?

I think it is your alignment. But you're front tires are also to low.

You can check your front toe yourself. Use a 'meetlint of rolmaat' (this is Dutch) and measure the width between the front tires at the front of the tires and do the same with the back of the front tires. The front width has to be a slight wider (between two and four mm) than the rear width between the front tires.

Depending on the layout of the track I changes the front toe more or less out. One mm can make a big difference in behavior.

 

[Gijs]

about the unbalance in my front tires, i know when you feel it in your steering wheel than they are serious off balance.But what i mean is so minor almost nobody feels it the same as me. of course i drive the car the most but i seem to be the only one with that sharp feel.( to me it feels like too much air in the front tires) there is also only one tire centre in my area who understands it and can correct it. i just think nsx is very sensetive at the front. Of course this could easely be NOT your problem, i was just wondering if anybody has the same experience as me