Still Not Happy With Handling/Ride

[Guest]

I have had my boxster for a few months now, previously owning a TT. I have had two new front tyres and a 4 wheel alignment by both Porsche and a local wheel specialist (and balanced). The car still drifts to the left slightly a say 80 MPH when you take your hands off the whell and I am told that this is not fixable and just one of those things. It is not a major thing but a small annoyance. The main complaint is that the steering wheel does vibrate slightly when doing such speeds, escpecially during acceleration. It is not bad, but not smooth. As I don't know the car that well, it is difficult to have confidence. Does anyone else expereince such a thing, or is there something wrong with my car?

 

[jw2015]

I'm sure others will agree it's not normal, either the vibrating or the pulling to the left (unless the road banks significantly to the left). Mine is rock solid at high speeds, accidently hit 110+ on a seriously bendy stretch of motorway last week and it felt like 80. No vibration, nothing to make me feel I was at that speed, wasn't even gripping the wheel, precise perfectly repsonsive and well weighted steering. There are a couple of threads going at the moment about cars not feeling right at high speeds, you might want to have a quick look at them

 

[Guest]

Have you checked underneath to see whether you have got the air splitters in front of the tyres at the front. After my wheel arch liner disintergrating on me the other day I was changing it and noticed that there were little pieces of rubber attached to the bottom. This was only attached to the offside - the nearside was missing completely. After a discussing on another car forum where people were mentioning about wobbly handling at high speed and the difference these pieces make to the aerodynamics of the car, I have replaced both of mine (and purchased two spares in case of speed hump damage). I won't be travelling at high speed again until tomorrow, will post again and let you know if there is any difference.

Here is a picture of where they should be - on this picture it is the little piece of rubber hanging down in front of the front wheel, stops the air hitting the tyre head on and pushes the air around the side of them which at speed should make the car more stable. Worth a try.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/Turdbabe/911PWShoot180306024.jpg

Picture from the 911PW Shoot, as the magazine is out now I can put my pictures up!!

 

[Black80XSA]

Pulling slightly to the left is down to road camber - if you get the same effect when straddling the centre lines then you have something amiss.

Can't see the air splitters making an awful lot of difference TBH but for what they cost they are worth replacing if damaged or missing.

You may have worn / perished bushes in the suspension arms - these require a complete arm replacement rather than just a bush swap

 

[Guest]

Thanks for that. When Porsche replaced the front tyres, they commented that one of the wheels was slightly warped. Two other tyre firms have said it is not. I do not want to go and buy another wheel just in case this is not the case. Having said that all my problems have really started since the tyres were changed. How can I find out if the bushes are worn? Surely Porsche would have found that out when they serviced the car last month???

 

[Guest]

Can't see the air splitters making an awful lot of difference TBH but for what they cost they are worth replacing if damaged or missing.

From driving mine this morning with two air splitters on it now there is a difference, no wandering feeling at all. These make a difference in the airflow around the wheel keeping it more in contact with the road, I don't see that they are totally insignificant otherwise they wouldn't bother fitting them.

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: michaelbarnes

The main complaint is that the steering wheel does vibrate slightly when doing such speeds, escpecially during acceleration. It is not bad, but not smooth. As I don't know the car that well, it is difficult to have confidence. Does anyone else expereince such a thing, or is there something wrong with my car?

I have seen this problem before on cars that have had there alloys refurbished after the usual kerbing damage has been filled and painted. For some reason balancing at speeds over 70mph is almost impossible to get 100% right on repaired alloys. It's more annoying than actually dangerous.[&o] Just a thought that your alloys may have been repaired at some stage.