Just wondering if this is normal or not. I don't remember feeling it on my previous Z's. Alignment has been done, new tyres fitted. No slack through the steering column. When I'm driving around I thought initially that it was pulling to the left. The steering wheel was wanting to turn in an anticlockwise direction, until I noticed on a real flat piece of road the she was sitting true....nice and straight. After focusing on the problem a while longer I think its not directional, it actually is dependant on the camber on the road etc. So the forces on the wheels are feeding back through to the steering wheel. Anyone know if this is a symptom of the pump / rack / adjustment / sensor?? In my old car I could stabilise the steering wheel with one finger, but with this one I feel I really need to be holding onto it.
I can say I can easily turn the car with one finger and keep it straight, so I wouldn't say this is normal.
mine has done exactly that since I bought it 2 years ago, it has had 3 w/alignments (last one was the other tyre service)I removed the steering wheel an turned it one notch towards the way it pulled this seemed to help, its like the rear wheels are not straight or the rack is off centre, anyway I have gotten used to it tyre wear is not perfect so I have put it down to the w/a and not having someone who knows what they are doing, and no I don't believe this is normal
Madcow - yes has 18 inch wheels and slightly lowered + coilovers (see photo below). This is pretty much the same setup as my previous car though. apegrip - yeah that's what I remember my last car to be like. I'm wondering if maybe it could have something to do with the HICAS?
From memory, if the wheel aligner goes by what he has on the computer, the adjustments are incorrect, they are z31 numbers and the z32 has a different set of adjustments. Maybe using the wrong settings causing the issue. http://www.aus300zx.com/forum/showthread.php?t=331065 also looks like different settings for the 2+2 , 2+0 aus-spec and j-spec
Not sure what is causing your problem mate, but I have been running 18"s on my Zed for the whole time I have owned it, without ever experiencing this issue. I suspect it is poor alignment. Cheers Lloyd
Some tyre tread patterns can contribute to this issue(very susceptible to "tracking")a condition in which they are overly effected by the camber of the road surface. Wider tyres are effected more than narrower ones. I seriously doubt that it is influenced/caused by HICAS. It can be bloody annoying(particularly when you have to constantly 'correct' your steering on a straight road). If you have access to a set of narrower rims/tyres, try driving along the same stretch of roadway and assess the difference(?).:br:
There isn't too much to get wrong doing alignment on a standard Z, they've probably reduced the toe-in which makes it more 'sporty' but less stable in a straight line. Unless you've got adjustable camber/castor arms the other possibility is that something is bent, did they give you a print out of the alignment values or any advice on worn components? With a little lowering 245 wide fronts mine tracks with the road a little but doesn't take much effort to keep straight.
I have 245's on the front of mine as well so could be tyre related. I also notice today more whine from the power steering while under load than I've noticed before. Just turning around in a narrow car parking area the power steering sounded like it was labouring a bit.
Because you are experiencing some annoying issues with steering/tracking, it is almost guaranteed that you will become hyper-sensitive to any(and all)extraneous sounds & behavior of your car. It is almost mandatory that this will continue to aggravate you(it's what cars do to get even with us). It's all covered by the Rule which says, "The chances of something becoming annoying, is directly proportional to the amount trouble it will cause you when it does").:rolleyes2:
Sounds like the toe alignment isn't even. If the drivers side front is a bit more aggressively aligned it will cause this.
LOL, yes I think you hit the nail in the head there. I'm currently trying to stop that repeating mental process that kicks in every 10 seconds or so and says..."is that pulling a bit, or am I just imagining it...???" Less assessment and more relaxation is required. The problem is if I get over this one I'll only start to notice something else. Probably better I stay frustrated with this....much cheaper.
Hey Briz I agree that its likely to be an over adjustment of toe during an alignment (aggressive setup - its always best to keep the alignment setup sheet for this reason to compare readings later) but it may be prudent to check the HICAS settings to ensure they are to spec, if one side is adjusted incorrectly then it can also cause the car to want to pull to one side with a heavier feeling as you explain. It may have been also setup on a 2WS alignment machine whereby the front was set to the back rather than setting the back first (checking the HICAS/toe camber on the rear first etc.) Remember that whilst its obvious that a 4WS vehicle requires a 4 wheel alignment, not always are the aligning machines capable of doing 4WS steering, nor does every mechanic know that Z's are 4WS. So always check to make sure there alignment machine is capable of doing 4WS and make sure the mechanic knows its 4WS when booking it in. Cheers Jamie
My first/other car is a 120Y so I don't actually notice any of the noises or 'handling problems' in the Z. I've got a busted valve in one of my rear shocks that knocks whenever the shock moves, any passenger that gets in the car immediately asks "what that rattling sound?" and it takes me a few seconds to realise what they're talking about. As for handling, the Y has a steering box and no steering linkages have been replaced in at least 20 years...
Thanks Jamie. Sounds like I just need to take it in for a new alignment. Unfortunately when I had it done originally was only a few days before I had engine trouble and the car ended up being off the road for six months. Cant really take it back now . I know somewhere close that seems to have good equipment so I'll take it in when I get a day off and see if it helps (and this time I'll get a copy of the setup sheet).
Hey Brisz No probs You need a break when it comes to luck and wheel aligning is a bit of a black art; in that the settings are individual rather than automatic, so unless you specify settings, the alignment mechanic guesses whether you want aggressive or economy or even somewhere in between and with a Z - that could be any of them! :rofl: Always keep the alignment settings in the glovebox as a rule- people should ask for these so that you have a base and history to work from and so that you can select preferred settings over time. At first many people don't realise that cars need to be setup to the road slant angle and that that the car must also pull to the left slightly, so many at first will not understand the figures on the sheet until the mechanic explains why they are different on the left and the right (how much is the variable in between). Ideally you should always discuss or specify to the alignment mechanic that you want the car setup for best performance around corners; best economy and tyre wear or even somewhere in between and that is actually very helpful to him! I recommend best economy and tyre wear for street generally but the mechanic looking at the Z is generally thinking I want to go fast around corners and its easy to see why! So unless I specify - I generally end up with in between :rofl:) Cheers Jamie
If you suspect there is a problem with the wheel alignment, the first thing to check is what the current settings are.
