Ek9

Ok, after a month of research here, I bought a 2002 silver S2K to replace my Civic track car with 53K miles on the clock. I'm aware of the bump steer issues and most of what's discussed here about the AP1 suspensions. As I got the car from the dealer, it had basically truck tires on it, 440 wear, Mud/Snow so, I waited till I could get some decent tires on there to ask this (Azenis 615's).

The most annoying part of driving the car (only annoying part really) is how it acts when I brake in a corner or even shift gears while cornering. I'm not even close to the limit. When I lift to shift or brake, the rear shifts as if it's going to come around. It's just like an oversteer you'd get while lifting when at the limit. You can induce it simply by starting in first, accelerating kind of hard (but not full out) turning a corner and shifting to second with the wheel cocked.

I'd describe it as a strange wobble that happens when the weight transfers forward.

So, the question is, does this describe the toe problem that the BSK kit addresses or is this more like worn out bushings or shocks? It's really disconcerting. I've had it up in the air and examined the bushing but, see no obvious sign of problems.

I drove one other S2K with about the same mileage and it had pretty much the same wobble.

Okonomiyaki

Sounds a bit strange, almost like the car is becoming unbalanced like an MR car with lift-off oversteer...which shouldnt happen on the S2K.

How long have you had the car? Gotten an alignment and all that good stuff I presume?

It could also be that all-season rubber.

Sorry couldn't be much of a help, but just a thought!

Slows2k

What size rear tires did you put on?

The OEM Bridgestone 225's are actually wider than any other 225. If you are using a non OEM S02 you need to be on 245's.

The tire size issue is in the wheel/tire forum stickies.

GoKartFun

Is the wobble like an oscillation of loose parts or more of a nervous feeling in the chassis? I wouldn't think the wider tire would benefit until your getting them too hot and it can't dissipate the heat like it should (tractions a function of force/area). I have a MY00 with 68k on the clock and drive very similar to my friends with 100k. My own personal experience with the car is that it takes very little time to transfer its weight to the tires making it the least forgiving/most rewarding I've ever driven. It's sensitive to my inputs, which has taught me to drive the smoothest I ever have. Who knows, maybe my car needs an alignment too.

Ek9

I'd agree it could be tires if the rear was really breaking loose. It's not. The rear suspension's just moving in a weird way when it unloads while in a corner. It just feels like oversteer.

What's on there now is http://www.falkentire.com/rt615_sizes.html

F

215/45R16 86W 2835-2641 7.5 7.0 - 8.0 23.6 8.4 768 8.0 8/32 21.7 51 1,168

R
225/50R16 92W 2835-2642 7.0 6.0 - 8.0 24.8 9.0 881 8.2 8/32 25.2 51 1,389

The 8.2B and 8.0F are the tread width. The S02 225 has a tread width of 8.5B and 7.1F

Perhaps I'm just expecting too much from a stock suspension. I'd say the rear feels under-damped to me. Like it needs more damping when it unloads.

Slows2k

Try some 245's on the back. = Less oversteer.

krazik

You didn't answer the alignment question have you had it aligned?

What specs?

How much time do you have driving a rwd car? You can't just yank it into a corner and expect it not to step out like I'm sure you could w/ the civic.

Not posting this in R&C eh?

Ek9

It hasn't been aligned. Then again I haven't changed anything yet to really justify it. I was going to wait till I got the BSK.

As it sits right now, I wouldn't take this car to the track. It's an accident waiting to happen. My F150 feels more stable at the same speeds. The Civic is an all around better track car than this one is at the moment though, I hope to change that.

Since it's not been to the track, it's not really a track issue. I don't drive on the road 1/10th as hard as I do on the track. This is a warning sign for me that the car's not ready for the track.

Maybe an alignment is the next step. Local alignment guy did wonders on the civic.

Slows2k

Wider rear tires and an accurate alignment will drastically change the car.

Every AP1 I've driven (over 50 cars) with non S02 225's (doesn't matter what tire) is more prone to oversteer than a S02 shod car.

Ek9

I'm not arguing with you but to me, oversteer implies I'm going fast enough to be near the grip limit on the tire. I'm not even close.

I've driven Miata's too and been in many an instructor RX-7 and they were nothing like this. I knew the AP1's were considered squirly. I was even warned away from them by one instructor who used to own one. I was just trying to pin down if the BSK is the way to dial this particular wierdness out of it.

Since there doesn't seem to be a concensus. I'll just keep working at it. Alignment first, maybe BSK. Koni's .

I'm not averse to bigger tires but, I'd want to get 17"s on there first and I haven't researched it yet.