suspension question

[tidyclio]

my clio has done 100k which is a lot, when it was new it used to handle almost aswell in the wet as it did in the dry.
i've added coilovers to it and i've replaced the wishbones buses,anti roll bar bushes,top mounts,balljoints,track rod ends,and the steering rack recently,the tracking has not been professionally done but new they are on 13 threads and with all the parts been new this should really be about right.
it handles great in the dry but the wet it's a nightmare i.e any light cornering side force on the car and the front end breaks away.i've got a few questions maybe someone can answe.

Can knackered drivehshafts affect your steering,i know their needing replaced but in can't really work out if they would affect handling?
the same question for wheel bearing,their is no play in the wheel but it's lowered 60mm and am sure they will be worn a bit at least?

the tyres on it are crap tbh but i think this is something more than that could the coilovers have changed the camber enough to make it this bad?

is their any other parts anybody can think of that might affect this?the steering very odd and definetly heavier going one way than the other

 

[edde]

I'd thing beearing maybe the problem I don't think driveshafts matter.
Stearing setup maybe bent or worn what car is it?

 

[tidyclio]

it's a 1.2 16v eddie same mark as yours.
how do you mean steering set up?it was just i read renault announced a recall on certain models a while ago due to possible driveshaft failures which they said in extreme cases could cause loss of steering control just wondered how?
i need to get the bearing done i've been running about with 3 bolts in each hub for 20k and with it been lowered i doubt that helps.would you not think i would feel play in the wheel at all?
the steering sometimes feels like the front right wheel is sticking(hard to describe).also after changing all of these parts when on a white line the car pulls itself all over the place,could this just be the increased castol angle with the coilovers?

 

[Josh@Renparts]

im probably wrong but the stifness of the coilovers is what causes this. I always read lowered cars, better in the dry but not as good in the wet. understeer etc..

 

[tidyclio]

could be a possible cause mate,they are on their lowest stiffness settings but theirs still quite harsh think the loose surfaces on roads don't help, but theirs noway i can be as bad as it is in the wet i hope.i don't know if the height difference between front and back could effect it?
eddie i got these of you what were your thoughts of the car in the wet?scary?lol

 

[edde]

could be a possible cause mate,they are on their lowest stiffness settings but theirs still quite harsh think the loose surfaces on roads don't help, but theirs noway i can be as bad as it is in the wet i hope.i don't know if the height difference between front and back could effect it?
eddie i got these of you what were your thoughts of the car in the wet?scary?lol

Never had any trouble in the wet with it the springs are harder so regardless of the damper setting the springs will make the ride harder.
What height did you get it up with? 300 at the front it was for me.
The only thing i can thing is the back was twitcy slightly (although it depends what you used to) when it had the dampers knocking and when it swopped back to the stock dampers.
I'df check the hubs havn't become out of roundness with 3 bolts etc.

 

[tidyclio]

i couldnt tell you figures mate but it's half way up the threads roughly,if i go higher i find it's very bouncy on bends(perhaps with the springs not been progressive).lower and it feels very loose.did you find it better higher or lower?
how can i check that?i've got money just now but i'm trying to choose between going to a suspension expert locally and getting alignment camber etc checked and seeing if that could be it, getting four better quality tyres or getting two new hubs+two new driveshafts.just wasn't sure as to how much what i'd say are transmission parts could have and effect on handling.
the back end is quite twitchy i was out very early(still half asleep) last week and went into a roundabout to quick,never thought and came off the accelerator,was nearly facing the other way!

 

[edde]

i couldnt tell you figures mate but it's half way up the threads roughly,if i go higher i find it's very bouncy on bends(perhaps with the springs not been progressive).lower and it feels very loose.did you find it better higher or lower?
how can i check that?i've got money just now but i'm trying to choose between going to a suspension expert locally and getting alignment camber etc checked and seeing if that could be it, getting four better quality tyres or getting two new hubs+two new driveshafts.just wasn't sure as to how much what i'd say are transmission parts could have and effect on handling.
the back end is quite twitchy i was out very early(still half asleep) last week and went into a roundabout to quick,never thought and came off the accelerator,was nearly facing the other way!

I had it set at Demon Tweeks and didn;'t have it long enough to asjust it.
I'd get the new hubs and get the setup checked mine getting a bit funny at the back now I'm thinking some rubbers have perrisher or I've bent somehting.

 

[tidyclio]

yep thats what i'm going to do change the hubs.come to think of it another problem is when i brake the car jerks like the feeling of the abs kicking in or the discs are warper,also when i spin the wheel something(i think discs)grind like hell,would this be a sign of it?
i had back bushes done at 36k they seem ok,the front one's had never been changed untill 100k and to be honest their wasn't a huge the difference they wern't in to bad a condition.the only thing i hate about the ride with the coilovers is you actually feel bad for your car everytime you hit a major bump the stress the chassis must be under!

 

[edde]

The thing is with a lowered car the bit is much more pronounched it get you harder you can feel it more and control it but its snaps quicker.

 

[tidyclio]

The thing is with a lowered car the bit is much more pronounched it get you harder you can feel it more and control it but its snaps quicker.

yep i'd definetly say thats true,in the dry i can't fault it,they feel better soft with a bit of bodyroll but really i havn't had a big enough area to push it hard anough to break away, not through lack of trying though it just seems to grip and grip the only time it will loose traction is on potholed roads.in the wet though the speeds at which it breaks away are quite pathetic,i'm talking to the point where for example some old dear in her standard can take a roundabout quite comfortably and i'm behind with the front end going.
one thing i really really miss about the car from new and something i'm trying to fix as it doesn't give you much confidence at all

 

[GordonD]

Occam's Razor.

You don't need any more than the tyres to explain it.

Some tyres are good in the dry and bad in the wet.

Worn out tyres are bad in the wet.

Old tyes are bad in the wet.

 

[tidyclio]

yeah your right mate tyres do make the big difference and they are on my list.but it feels like more than that,when the car was new the original tyres were down to slicks an even in the wet it was still pretty good,i've tried to get all the parts back to as new condition and it still isn't as good.
i think one problem with the tyre maybe with the dampers been so stiff they are weakening the sidewalls as the last set that came off were pretty bad