[Shotimes] Track Day - Road Atlanta

Donald Mallinson dmall@mwonline.net
Wed, 26 Jan 2005 05:22:07 -0600


Pete,

The problems you describe sound like the classic bad clutch 
(worn pressure plate fingers from the throwout bearing 
rubbing) instead of tranny problems.

Understeer is a part of any FWD car but IMO that just makes 
learning to drive one, more fun, or at least a challenge.

With the proper tires, and some tire pressure fiddling, and 
a little change in driving style, you can change the 
attitude to neutral pretty easy, and like any car, you just 
don't drive it into a corner way too fast.  Remember the 
racers motto:  Slow in, fast out.  Not the other way around!

:)

New struts don't have to cost an arm and a leg, and maybe 
just a cleaning and bit of lube will bring the shifter back 
to being just normal.  The SHO in either cable of rod 
shifter versions never had a strong self-centering mode, so 
you just have to get used to testing the gate to know where 
you are when shifting, something that should come natural 
anyway.

But I understand, and the Miata is a fun track car, but 
learning to toss the heavier FWD SHO around can be fun too.

Run the Miata till you get the SHO back up to snuff, and 
replace that clutch, you may find you fall back in love.

Don Mallinson

Peter Chase wrote:
>>2. I'm a little weary that bringing my 139k daily driver SHO with an
> 
> already iffy tranny would only bring it closer to needing a >of expensive
> work. My Miata on the other hand.....
> 
> What's wrong with the car/tranny?
> 
> 
> Well, basically, it's the worst shifting car I've ever owned (no fault of the design, I'm afraid it's just worn out).  First, there's absolutely no self centering effect to the shifter, so I have to be careful about where the shifter is laterally before I push or pull the shifter longitudinally.  Second, when trying to get into gear (especially when cold, but even when warm), I often have to apply pressure to the shifter for almost a full second before the tranny will get into gear. Even being patient, 2nd gear will sometimes grind no matter how long I've waited or even if I've double clutched.  I've got a couple quarts of Redline D4 that I'm hoping to get in this weekend to see if that'll help at all, but I'm not expecting any miracles.  
> 
> In addition to the tranny "issues", the front shocks are totally shot, and there's also so much understeer, I feel like (on a track at least) I'd scrub through a set of front tires in no time.  Also, there seems to be a lot of driveline slack so I'd be worried about weakening the motor mounts, too.  
> 
> Don't get me wrong here, I still enjoy driving the car every day, it's just that my car doesn't really seem track-ready.  I'd much rather get my non-daily-driver Miata out there then worry about hurting my SHO.
> 
> Pete  
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
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