air suspenion problem at high speeds

Shibs

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So this past weekend I raced a '08 Cadillac STS V8 on the highway and it was an even race. We were going 125+:D . My problem is that when I was switching lanes the car would sway like a boat and would do it for a second or two after I stopped turning. It really is not noticeable at highway speeds. The tires were properly inflated and they are balanced cause at 125 I didn't feel any vibration. My old '94 didn't have this issue.

'97 LSC w/ 169k miles
 
Solution-Don't drive 125+MPH and you won't have this issue. Save the racing for the track!

Where do you live again, I want to keep my eyes on the paper for when you either wind up in jail or wind up in the obits section!
 
The front suspension is a bit worn out but the rear sway bar looks ok and rear shocks are new. As for going to a track... the nearest race track is couple hours away. Drag strips are ok but not that much fun. Knock on wood but I am yet to have a speeding ticket. Its all about knowing where the cops usually sit.
 
If you want street race, do it where your mistakes or equipment failure won't take the life of someone else. I suggest that you find a track the suits your needs. Most tracks have times set aside for amatuer drivers where you can push your to and over it's limits. Saying that a track is a couple hours away is a lame excuse for not going.

If you want to be traveling at high speeds safely, you must make sure that your car is capable of safely handling speeds greater than what you desire.
This includes drive train and related equipment, suspension, brakes, and wheels and tires.

The surface your driving on must be capable of handling high speeds as well.
A pot hole or a bad crack in the road can put you into your opponent or a hard immovable object.

Most important of all; the driver must be functioning with a clear head.

If you insist on goin' fast and livin' dangerously, get a ten or fifteen speed bicycle and try to keep up with the cars. That way when you screw up, you most likely won't hurt anyone but yourself.
 
the nearest race track is couple hours away..

how close is the nearest cemetary?

The track I used to race at was 82 miles ONE WAY, we used to make that trip "EVERY" friday, for five years.

there is no excuse for street racing.
 
Not to dish another bash, but just to offer some experience. Everyone will say street racing is stupid, that said, we have all put the hammer down to show what we've got. here's my concern...

I used to commute from San Jose to Van Nuys twice a week, 347 miles each way straight down I5 (as in I would average 1800 miles per week), and I would routinely run comfortably in the triple digits for extended times. That being said, the car I used was built for it (to the tune of about $6k into suspension, brakes, and tires) and was track tested multiple times at 170mph, as well as my person experience in it during several evasive, emergency, and road racing driving courses.

Based on what you said you really needed to back off on the speed for a couple of reasons, and heres why:

First and foremost: Conditions - changing lanes...most people dont diligently watch there mirrors, and most collisions will be caused by another driver not realizing you have switched and moving into your path. Also things like how wide is the road, how far ahead and how wide is your field of vision, what is your "ditch plan", and what else is around....you must plan for a blowout or loss of control, and keep in mind that should your ditch plan include crossing a curb etc, you will end up airborn, so make sure you have plenty of slide room and are ready to eat your roof.

Second: the condition of your vehicle...clearly the suspension was not up to the task, but stop and look at the rest of the picture (this is my quick quiz to myself anytime I am going to plant it on the street) in all of these questions you need to be honest about the last time you verifed what you know. Along with the suspension, what is the condition of the tires (treadware, inflation, carcass integrity, and speed rating), what is the condition of the brake system (pad type and quality, fluid integrity, actual line quality)...these are the biggest element you are trusting you life to, and should an emergency arise you will be pushing them to their maximum working capacity...make sure they can take it

Third: driver clarity(decision making process)...you realized you had a problem the first time the suspenion twitched; in real racing thats why you pit; in any scenerio if you continue the run you are making a decison that your pride is worth both your life, and anyone in a 1/4 mile radius....the problem is in the adreniline rush your reactions may be better, but your thinking will not be (the cure for this is a lot of track time on a road course...it will help you curb the rush, and driving schools will make the exact response to situations instinctive).

Now, after my rant I would say check all of your bushings around the sway bars, and make sure you dont have any air leaks in the suspension; in one of my old conti's the right fron airspring had a slow leak, and when pushing it you sould deffinatly feel it not carrying it weight.

Lastly, to the remark about knowing where the cops hang out, On one of my runs south I did not have my radar detector and was clocked at 142 in a 70. I got a firm talking to however I was not cited (Leagally he should have given me a set of silver bracelets)...When he started on the fact that I was insane I pointed out all of the environmental conditions (visibilty, ambient temp and how it affects road quality and adheasion, and the fact that the road was repaved 2 weeks earlier) the color and number of every vehicle I passed in the last 5 miles (and mentioned the fact that on approach I would shave close to 50MPH off my speed), the fact that the car was built for it, and that I was sitting on the side of the road waiting for him before he even entered the roadway or hit his lights. Yes, I admitted guilt, but also proved I knew what I was doing, and was paying attention....doesnt make it right, and I was lucky, but in the big picture I was more concerned about staying alive that getting stopped.

P.S. Most car guys who have track time will flame on you strictly because your post showed the lack of experience in controlling the rush that inhibits your ability to make decisions....I say fix your suspension, find a few good driving schools that will let you run your own car, then you will be good to go....yeah, street racing is stupid, but so was high school sex without a condom, and when the head cheerleader is willing....

stay safe
 
yeah, street racing is stupid, but so was high school sex without a condom, and when the head cheerleader is willing....

stay safe

HAHA! He said sex, head, and cheerleader all in the same sentence!

Was this cheerleader know for giving head or was she like the captain????
 
Its just a matter of being safe.....head from a cheerleader is safer than sex without i condom....yeah...thats what i meant....uhuh.

good catch, guess we all now know where my mind was when i wrote it....staying alive so i could get...or give...nevermind....
 
Too much to quote but... yes street racing may be stupid but not everybody has the time and/or money to go to tracks on a regular basis. And if that is the case the car manufacturers should not build cars that go faster than highway speeds or do it like nissan did with the new GT-R in Japan where u have to call in to get it unlocked for track use.

1st- I only race on highways (3 lanes+) that have light to no traffic. It is retarded to race weaving through cars.

2nd- Yes the suspension was worn (visually doesn't look very worn) and didn't notice it til after 100mph but the only way to know the limit of your car is taking it there. I will be doing a full suspension work-up soon.

3rd- When my car decided to do the funky chicken switching lanes at 125 I did pull back and not try to go any further. So its not a judgment issue.

Last- Yes the comment about cops was very egotistic but what fun is life without a little bit of risk. Yes I know its insta jail time if you are going over 100.

P.S. Everything you said is true but not every street racer is an idiot who hits the gas pedal to go fast. But then again its the lack of tracks (drag strips don't count) w/ or w/o schools that we have so many street races.
 
And if that is the case the car manufacturers should not build cars that go faster than highway speeds or do it like nissan did with the new GT-R in Japan where u have to call in to get it unlocked for track use..

Why would you blame the manufacturer? that's ludicrious.

SOME OF US are smart and mature enough to not drive like an idiot on public hiways.

JUST because my first gen mark 8 would do 105 MPH in second gear didn't mean it was OKAY to run out and GO 105 MPH.

So by your logic, because some people cant control themselves.. ALL CARS should ONLY go the SPEEDLIMIT?

wow.... that's sad.

Typical case of "blaming someone else for your lack of control".
*shakes head*

If more people felt like you do, we'd all have little crappy electric/smart cars that wouldn't go fast enough to get out of their OWN WAY.

I'm glad you're a minority...and dont represent the mass majority of folks.
 
Why would you blame the manufacturer? that's ludicrious.

SOME OF US are smart and mature enough to not drive like an idiot on public hiways.

JUST because my first gen mark 8 would do 105 MPH in second gear didn't mean it was OKAY to run out and GO 105 MPH.

So by your logic, because some people cant control themselves.. ALL CARS should ONLY go the SPEEDLIMIT?

wow.... that's sad.

Typical case of "blaming someone else for your lack of control".
*shakes head*

If more people felt like you do, we'd all have little crappy electric/smart cars that wouldn't go fast enough to get out of their OWN WAY.

I'm glad you're a minority...and dont represent the mass majority of folks.

I'm not trying to blame the manufacturers. And its not just some... alot of people should not drive cars capable of higher speeds. Also have you heard of the Montana Speed Limit Paradox. For a couple years there was no posted daytime speed limit so you can drive as fast as you felt like. Well in those years there were record low highway fatalities. After they reinstated the speed limit the fatalities went up. Also take the German Autobahn for example, they also have less fatalities than normal highways. So because someone is going fast doesnt mean they will be killing people.
 

The "tracks" for them is either a closed off parking lot for autocross in Salem or an oval track in Radford. Yes, 3 hour drive is not that bad but a wanna be track is not worth the time. The only decent track near me is Summit Point Raceway in WV but it only has public events on Friday which unfortunately is a workday. The way the economy is now, missing a workday is out of the question.
 
Shibs, Sounds like there is some form of sanity going through your head, and that is good....like you said bringing up the montana issue (used to live there), speed doesn't kill anywhere near as fast as stupidity.

and my final remark (i think)...you are correct that the only way to know the limit is to take it there, and knowing what happens when you approach and ultimatley cross that threshold is invaluable...that being said the safest place is a track, and the next best (for me) is a two lance country road near my ranch...most of it has a mile of visibility, there are a few nice sweeping curves, and 7 miles of blacktop with no entrances or exits.
 
If your front susspension's worn out, I wouldn.t even recomend putting it on a track.
 
I hate to say it but I've gone 100 mph in my Mark on the street.... but I'm young and dumb!

:D

I buried it past 140 on a suspension that wasn't up to par, on a loooooooong straight away with an F-250 busting my balls.

Since then (thanks MonsterMark) I've enjoyed cruising more. Just hearing the car people know it's got balls, nothing needs to be proved. I keep the car under 40 on the streets, and haven't gone over 90ish since I got it back, and that was during a horrible 100 mile one way (longest drive of my life) trip with no traffic at 6am, I'm still mad at myself for agreeing "yeah babe I'll drive you there, because I like highway driving in the Mark"

Don't end up in the news.:cool:
 

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