Hard Drive - the diagnosis follows

Archives of Posts to the NZ MX5 List back in 2001
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Dr Chris Westinghouse

Hard Drive - the diagnosis follows

Post by Dr Chris Westinghouse » Mon Nov 12, 2001 12:58 pm

Hi All

Spent an hour or two with Ray this afternoon, and here's the gist of the
diagnosis on my "hard drive" and unstable cornering "even at sensible
speed."

1. There aren't any after-production modifications anywhere, so the good
news is that everything is standard.
2. The rear shocks are definitely finished, especially the right hand one
- Ray threw the car around a bit at dazzling speed (well, I thought it was
fairly dazzling), and wasn't at all satisfied with the car's response. At
60 000km, the original production shocks would probably be due for
replacement anyway.
3. Can anyone point me in the right direction to get a set of the
now-famous Koni's at a good price???
4. My increasingly sloppy clutch will need replacement soon - so will get
that done ASAP. Ray recommends a lighter flywheel that is far more
responsive.
5. Apparently Glen Munroe at Power Rotary is the MX5 mechanical guru in
Auckland - so Glen, if you see this posting, know that I will be on the
phone to you first thing on Monday. I think I am going to be your newest
best friend...
6. Other items that could do with attention include replacement of the
front tyres (I replaced the rear ones with Bridgestone Grid II's last month
and was going to replace the front ones soon anyway); redoing the wheel
alignment after replacing the shocks; fitting a rear tension bar, which
will improve cornering stability.

I am really pleased to know that my suspicions were not just the paranoia
of a fellow who is accustomed to being pampered by Mercs, BMW's and Audi's
- this is my first sportscar and I just knew that my driving experience HAD
TO be better than it is. Thanks Ray. I know this is going to cost me
some money, but who wants to own a fabulous car that is only good for going
to the grocer or the post office?

Thanks again to all of you who responded to my call for advice - much
appreciated.

Chris Westinghouse


On Friday, November 09, 2001 7:55 PM, Ray [SMTP:ray.yp@zfree.co.nz] wrote:
[...]

Gary Morrison
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Posts: 100
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 3:24 pm
Location: Wellington

Hard Drive - the diagnosis follows

Post by Gary Morrison » Sat Nov 24, 2001 10:42 am

Chris,

So tell us... how is the car post modification and alignment???

Gary

Dr Chris Westinghouse

Hard Drive - the diagnosis follows

Post by Dr Chris Westinghouse » Sat Nov 24, 2001 5:23 pm

Okay - I don't need any encouragement to tell you all about the
improvements in my MX5's handling :

Three weeks after fitting the new Koni's (purchased from Andy and Mike,
fitted by Glenn at Rotary Power) I am still driving with the grin on my
face that Ray promised me I would... It's like chalk and cheese. Glen
also fitted a rear suspension brace (purchased from Ross Campbell at Mazda
MX5 Mart in Hamilton). Instead of tackling corners with the agility of an
octaganerian, I can now choose my route to include as many as I can find -
the car sits and sits and sits on those bends.

The Koni's are set at semi-soft (half-a-turn) on the front and a full turn
(hard) at the rear and I find this pretty good. The "hard drive" that I
experienced before is a thing of the past - the Ponsonby Rd goat track
doesn't bother me anymore. I think I may take Ray's advice and soften the
rear a bit more though - it isn't necessary for them to be quite so hard,
and as Ray says, the relative hardness in the rear may tend toward
oversteer on hard cornering.

Glenn also replaced the clutch and the difference is predictably noticeable
- the old one was definitely on its last legs.

Having paid only $10 000 for the car (I knocked the price down by $3 000),
and now having spent about $3 000.00 on her, I feel like I've got a whole
lot of car at the end of the day for my $13 000.00.

Regards,
Chris


On Saturday, November 24, 2001 10:43 AM, Gary Morrison
[SMTP:gm@paradise.net.nz] wrote:
[...]

my2cta
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Posts: 102
Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 12:43 pm
Location: Upper Hutt

Hard Drive - the diagnosis follows

Post by my2cta » Sat Nov 24, 2001 8:47 pm

Good to hear how much difference it has made. It makes me wonder something
though. My MX is a 2000 model with only 9500 kms so far and it sticks to
the road like glue at any speed I'm prepared to travel. Handling I can only
describe as stunning. Haven't been able to detect any trace of either
oversteer or understeer, unlike my other cars. Now with a car this good I'm
obviously never going to want to part with it, but as the parts age, the
handling will gradually deteriorate, right? How do you detect slowly
deteriorating handling over the years and the point at which it is time to
do something about it? I don't want to think "it must be time to change the
shocks" as I do a 360 one wet day in the future! There's been lots on this
list about replacing the shocks at c. 60,000 kms, which obviously applies
to the older cars based on experience. Has anyone out there had an M2 that
has got to those sorts of kms (might have done for an early one I guess),
to see if the same rule of thumb applies? A test I read on the M2 said it
handled like the M1 only more so (which I took to mean it was even better).

One other thing. My car has Michelin Pilot SX 195/50 R 15 tyres fitted as
standard, which must be major contributors in the "sticks like glue"
department. No tyre squeal at any cornering speed. Nobody on the list has
ever mentioned Michelin tyres in relation to replacement tyre questions.
Are they not available or just too damned expensive?

Tim Dutton
MY2CTA
Tim
MY2CTA

Gary Morrison
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Posts: 100
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 3:24 pm
Location: Wellington

Hard Drive - the diagnosis follows

Post by Gary Morrison » Sun Nov 25, 2001 10:25 am

Chris,

Did you get the lightened flywheel when the clutch was done, and if so,
comments please???

Gary

Dr Chris Westinghouse

Hard Drive - the diagnosis follows

Post by Dr Chris Westinghouse » Sun Nov 25, 2001 11:33 am

Hi Gary et al

Nope, didn't go for the lightened flywheel, so can't comment.

Chris

On Sunday, November 25, 2001 10:25 AM, Gary Morrison [SMTP:gm@paradise.net.nz] wrote:
[...]

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