99 corolla: too many spin outs... - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Legion560 · 02-21-2005, 10:57 PM

Hey guys,
I know nothing much about cars in general, but here is my problem with my 99 corolla (all oem, no mods)
I tend to spin out way too easily even at low speeds. These are speeds which other 4 cylinder cars of similar size are able to handle. At first I thought it was my tires. I got them changed, but Im still having some issues. My first experience was coming across a mild curve at about 40 mph. Road was slightly wet (rained the day before) and there was no posted speed limit reduction since the curvature of the road wasnt all that great. All of a sudden I spin 270 degrees and bounce from the left lane into the right lane and end up perpendicular to the curb. Ive had two more similar incidents-one today where I was going at about 65 on the freeway (again, wet roads, but I have Aquatreads!) and same thing, 270 degress across two lanes of traffic. Im glad I missed the other cars.

This is starting to freak me out. At times, it really does feel like the car isnt very stable on the road especially at moderate speeds. Why is this? Is there something inherently unstable about the corolla with regards to center of gravity, frame size, wheel spacing, weight etc? The fact that is it FWD?

Or is it something that I am doing to create such dangerous situations? Id like to not think so, since I am a good driver. I know how to take corners and curves etc.

Thanks for helping.

Legion

Dr Tweak · 02-21-2005, 11:15 PM

Well, it's not the car.

Either you're a really crappy driver (no offense), or there's something seriously wrong (broken) with your car. I would have it checked out by a qualified mechanic.

Other than that, some time spent at a racing school would probably do you good.

There is no reason at all to be rotating a front-heavy understeering FWD car. Maybe your car missed the front swaybar assembly line or something

Maybe even a broken spring or strut... or two

NRM · 02-21-2005, 11:22 PM

Haha, you can't blame the car. All the center of gravity, frame, size, wheel spacing, weight, or FWD won't cause you to spin out 270 degrees randomly. They just don't design cars like that. Maybe if the car was designed to be spinning on some sort of rollerball, but not a 99 Corolla.

I can only say it is probably you. Either that or you have some REALLLLLY slick roads over in Philadelphia.

I never thought this would be good advice, but try driving another car for a while. If you're still spinning out... well... yeah. I guess there COULD be a possibility with your car, but I can't imagine what unless there's some sort of gremlin living inside and messing with your handling...

Legion560 · 02-21-2005, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NRM

Haha, you can't blame the car. All the center of gravity, frame, size, wheel spacing, weight, or FWD won't cause you to spin out 270 degrees randomly. They just don't design cars like that. Maybe if the car was designed to be spinning on some sort of rollerball, but not a 99 Corolla.

I can only say it is probably you. Either that or you have some REALLLLLY slick roads over in Philadelphia.

I never thought this would be good advice, but try driving another car for a while. If you're still spinning out... well... yeah. I guess there COULD be a possibility with your car, but I can't imagine what unless there's some sort of gremlin living inside and messing with your handling...

I drive both of my parents cars (2002 Accord, 1998 Lexus ES300) with absolutely no problems. I am no more careful with thier cars than I am with mine.
Maybe I am a crappy driver

Just like shooting pool. Blame the stick, not the person

Realistically spekaing, I may have some bad habits that I am unaware of, but I cant shake the feeling that the car just doesnt ride right. Especially in comparison to the other cars I drive.

I think if I took this to the shop, they would laugh thier asses off.

Legion

Dr Tweak · 02-22-2005, 12:17 AM

Don't tell them that you spin it out, just tell them you that you think it feels unstable and have them check the whole suspension out on it.

Pineapple · 02-22-2005, 01:12 AM

Maybe rear drum lock up. Did they mount the tire backward? I believe Aquatreads are directional.

***MRQtwinturbo*** · 02-22-2005, 08:49 AM

i think speed is the factor here....doing 65mph in the wet.....taking a curve at 40 mph in the wet.....even the best tires won't defy the laws of physics (ie no traction)...

rated_w · 02-22-2005, 09:49 AM

does the car bounce up and down uncontrolably after hitting bumps?

check your suspension.. could be the cause of this.. and while you are at it get aftermarket shocks and springs

.. to make sure you don't spin out in the future

..

Pineapple · 02-22-2005, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRQturbo

i think speed is the factor here....doing 65mph in the wet.....taking a curve at 40 mph in the wet.....even the best tires won't defy the laws of physics (ie no traction)...

Oh right 65mph is about 100kph.

Azuremen · 02-23-2005, 03:47 AM

Sounds like you could be riding the brakes... this would tend to make the back end come out. I do something similar on pivot cones when I autocross FWD cars. Trail braking. However, also sounds like you are not familar with emergency car control, such as slide recovery, and have too much confidence in a tire name

Are you on the brakes when you start to slide? And what do you do when the car starts to rotate? Besides just let everything do whatever the hell it pleases...

automatic · 02-23-2005, 07:51 PM

Maybe to have the alignment checked wouldn't be a bad idea.
It is very strange to have come from another car and have these control problems all of a sudden.
If the alignment checks out, maybe to try a couple pounds less air in the rear/more in the front until you get a better balance.
I had to do that on my old '92 Corolla after putting swaybars on from another car, now I can even jam on the brakes in the middle of a corner(@60) and just scrub off some speed by allowing the rear to slide around a little bit if I need to.

karugs · 02-23-2005, 09:08 PM

Have it checked first, and like Dr. Tweak said, don't mention spin outs.

Have you hit anything lately? A curb? A bump? Might have gotten it out of alignment.

These are front-heavy cars that are prone to understeering, so it's very unlikely that you should oversteer and get into a spin. Any suspension/steering work done lately?