Braking and car moves strangely.
 

I don't know if this conditions, braking, suspesion...


I've noticed under some braking conditions that the car feels like it'll bite harder on one wheel, then shift to another wheel, then another, then another...almost in a circular motion.

The result is that it doesn't feel "happy"...and like you should fight the wheel a bit.

What causes this? What can fix this?


To a point, I had this happen with other cars too, but, it wasn't as noticable.

Does your VDC indicator come on when your braking? This may be the VDC kicking in.

I've not noticed it coming on.

Mine does this too, I thought it was the VDC, and played with it a little, Then got sways and springs, and new tires... It is no longer an issue. Mine felt like for lack of better words "skittish" almost. Its more stable now. I have a base though.

I've got a base also and it happens to me every time I brake hard. I definitely have to grab the wheel with both hands and hold on for dear life. It almost feels like the car skids from side to side. Not a good feeling. :thumbsdown:

Interesting ... I have base + sport and I brake really hard sometimes... I could almost let off the wheel and brake if i am going straight...

Typically that's the result of "tramlining". Cars with wide tires are particularly susceptible to this. Generally caused by slight road irregularities on heavily trafficed roads. Often you cannot see the road level difference. The tire track areas gradually sink a bit especially where there is heavy truck traffic. The tires nibble and fight side to side in this "groove". Some tires make this more noticeable.


Tirerack tech explanation here: Tire Tech Information - Tramlining: Coping with the Ruts in the Road

Nice read - thanks MS :)

had this (tracking) problem in the stang...felt like the front ires always wanted to jump rails so to speak...even worse when braking...

The problem becomes exaggerated on Sports (or sporty) cars where the suspension settings are a skewed toward handling response, rather than a hands off boulevard ride. YOu can dumb down the settings (lol...the Corvette guys do this all the time), buy different tires, or just choose to live on the edge...:tup:

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks so much for the info! :tiphat:

Modshack is completely right. Great Post Modshack! Another option is to notice these indifferences on the road and to drive a different line (shade a lil to the left or right) this will keep your tires out of the trouble areas and give you better more stable braking. I do it all the time and in racing terms your just using a different line to approach a turn entrance.

Boy in GA we have some bad ones thanks to MARTA and their heavy buses on every road... its like jumping a canyon wall in some places. Thats where taking a completley different approach to a turn really helps the dynamics of the car and allows you to enjoy the car on crappy roads.

How hard were you braking? I remember the stock suspension kinda got squirly under hard braking when the rear was getting a little light. But you have to be braking really hard for that to happen...

Fairly hard, maybe 70% max or a bit more?

It was when I was "stop testing" the car. I found out the car stops fast enough it's nearly an out of body experience.

Yeah, it kinda tends to feel like it wants to "squirl" out to the sides a little? Its a combination of the road, the staggered setup and the suspension. If your alignment is off, breaking is where you will feel it most too...