I’ve driven my Merlot for about 3 months now. It had four new Toyo T1-R tyres in December. The tracking needed correction, so I had that done. I have to say that I’m not very comfortable with the handling. Even in the dry it feels as if the front end has its own ideas about where to go. The effect is considerably amplified in the wet. I’m not sure that the car actually will go where it chooses, but it at least feels that way.
When it passed its MOT about 6 months ago, there was an advisory on the nearside rear shock absorber - ‘has a slightly reduced damping effect’ or something along those lines. Is this likely to be causing major problems?
I had the suspension and steering checked over by a local independant garage. They said there’s a 11mm height difference from side to side over the back wheels, and a 5mm difference over the front wheels; from what I’ve read, this isn’t a problem, though I’d be interested to hear your opinions. Overall, however, they checked it over and couldn’t find anything obviously wrong with it. Their suggestion was that that was probably as good as I can expect from the MK1; I hope they’re mistaken, because I’m ashamed to say that right now, my brother’s 306 is easier to handle!
Has anyone been in a similar situation, and if so, what solved the problem?
When you say you had the tracking done, was that all that you had set?If so you need a full geometry setp doing. Can cost £100 but makes the car handle like it should. The ride height differences are well within accepted, and Mazda , tolerances.
have a search through this link and the associated FAQ and you may find some one local who offers the service
I’ve no idea if they’ve been changed since new. The car has a little below 60000 on the clock; how many miles should they last?
It was just a ~£40 tracking job, front and back, not the full geometry. I have been thinking of making the ~300 mile round trip to Wheels In Motion, but would really like to know first:
(a) whether geometry is really likely to be all that’s wrong with it; and
(b) whether I should change the rear shock absorbers before getting the geometry done.
I know exactly what you mean. Until I’d driven my MX5 after I’d replaced the suspension and reset it to approximately the right settings, I would not have believed how scary the handling could be.
I would suggest the following:
Replace the defective shock and the one on the opposite side.
Check for broken springs, worn bushes, rectify.
Email tony at WIM with your ride height, front and rear, and ask for suitable settings for your use (safe road, aggressive, fast road, track etc. ) He is a top man, so helpful.
Find your closest alignment centre through alignmycar.co.uk and get it aligned. Caution;-check them out first - see my comments on a Gloucester centre.
