deludedbuzz

So my stock 03 S2000 has developed a vibration under throttle. I can mainly feel it at higher speeds and only when I'm accelerating. I thought at first it was because my wheel weights had fallen off, but got them rebalanced and the vibration is still there. Tried another set of wheels and tires to make sure it wasn't another issue like flat spotted tires but still there. Car under acceleration feels like driving over those small reflective lane bumps (but not that loud and shaky.) This happened all of a sudden (during a track day at Thunderhill in CA.)

From searching s2ki it appears that it its probably the inner cv joints being pitted? Does my above description jive with inner cv joint problems? Also how bad is it to continue driving the car with this problem, especially at speed (I have another track day scheduled tomorrow?) Or should I stow it until its fixed?

Thanks!

Soviet

It does seem like inner CV joins are being pitted. You should swap axle buckets ASAP. I can't comment on how much abuse they can take but I have rarely heard horror stories. You'll probably feel bad about beating on it at the track day though.

s2000Junky

Nothing catastrophic will likely happen leaving them, but sure is annoying! Cant be to inspiring on the track feeling that either, I know I wouldn't. Probably robs some power too. Just pull the axles and swap the cups side to side, or if you can get your hands on some split half axle spacers soon, this will do the trick and will save you a lot of time and mess from needing to swap cups right now. When the vibration finally returns with the spacers in 40-60k miles from now, then you can swap the cups. There are 3 different configs to milk this situation. After 220k miles I finally had to retire my original cups. Went through all the configs.

Topplayer

I have done 3 track days with the vibrations. My last one it got REALLY bad, I am supercharged idk if that makes a difference. When I say bad the whole car felt like a vibrator. In my eyes I would just run it if I didnt have time to fix it, I just bought spacers to fix the problem when it comes back Ill swap buckets.

IMO buy spacers to fix it, if you dont get them in time just run the car.

blueprint

axle spacers fixed the mild vibrations i had in my car.

https://www.balladesports.com/produc...eshaft-spacers

alSpeed2k

^From the Ballade description "This lowers any rate of failure and loss of spacers reported by owners who traded over from competitor 2 piece brands over to our single construction." How does a two piece "fail" and get "loss"? Serious question as I recently lowered my car and also feel a slight vibration.

Soviet

I too would like to know. I have never had issues with my own 2 piece spacers and have not heard of any failures.

s2000Junky

I call BS on that one in my experience. Ive run the same 2 piece spacers on my car for about 150k miles now, including the longer bolts that came with the kit. They are so much easier to install since you don’t have to pull the shafts to install them. That’s the selling point and if your under time constraints or just lazy, its a clear better option.

Soviet

Yep. I suspect this is just a bunch of marketing. Especially when these are significantly more expensive than competitors.