[Miata] Time for New Shocks?

[Bob]

Has the car been lowered? Sounds like it might be bouncing off the bump
stops. 

Bob 
 
-------Original Message-------
 
From: Bruce MacKay
Date: 04/14/07 07:05:24
To: Miata Mail
Subject: [Miata] Time for New Shocks?
 
I acquired a 96 M Edition about a year ago. It's spent most of the past year
in the garage, being driven infrequently (partly due to DC area weather,
partly due to my insane travel schedule, partly due to unscheduled surgery
that laid me up for most of last summer). The car was in pretty good shape
overall (about 69,000 mi when I got her); I had some earlier posts on issues
that I've addressed as time allowed. 

Yesterday, I was driving home. I went into a sweeping right hand exit ramp @
about 30 mph. Concrete surface was a bit wavy - almost billiard-table smooth
for DC - and Miata went nuts. Car skipped sideways almost out of control.
Weather was relatively warm; road surface was dry and not covered with sand,
dirt, or anything else that would explain why she went from docile to
homicidal hopscotch. 
Tire pressures are good, as is tire tread; she's wearing Kumho Ecstas. Had
the alignment redone about 8 weeks ago (made the mistake of taking her out
on a cold day; patch of ice had us smack a curb ... you know the rest), so I
don't see an issue there. Tire wear all around is even. She's always
tramlined a bit, which I've put down to the low-profile wide tires and the
rutting common in the roads around here. If the roads are in good shape, she
tracks well. Otherwise, pay attention to keep her in her lane. 

Since yesterday's thrill ride I've noted that any pavement imperfection will
cause her to shimmy. I know that cowl shake is common in convertibles, but
this seems to me to be a bit more than that. Finally, I've noted that firm
braking will cause her nose to start swinging. 

I had planned on replacing the shocks, just because - but now I'm thinking
that she needs new shocks RIGHT NOW.  Is there something else that may be
causing her behavior? Or am I just being over-sensitive? I've also got a 98
Altima, and that car normally doesn't even note some of the pavement
imperfections that put the Miata into an epileptic seizure. 

If I do need new shocks, what would you recommend? Miata is a pleasant-day
top-down wander-through-the-countryside car. I don't autocross; I
periodically engage in the Stoplight Grand Prix just because I love the
sounds she makes as the Monsterflow intake feeds her (and my!) Need for
Speed. 

Until I figure out what the heck is going on, that Need will not have any
Speed attached - don't want to bounce off the road!


Bruce MacKay
96 M Edition

 
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