So the 350Z is my first rear wheel drive sports car, and over the last few weeks of owning it, I am noticing that the rear end tends to step out...almost as if its skipping a little, while taking turns. This happens on a slight right hand turn around 40 mphs...without even giving it gas. I am asking if this is normal, or if there is an issue with my suspension...which I am actually replacing within a month. I am just wondering if shot shocks and struts can do something like this.

The feeling is as if the rear tires break loose just a little, and then snap back into grip....it feels really weird and jerks the car through the corner...if this is normal please advise...But I though that having a sports car, the handling would improve over fwd cars which took the exact same turns at the same speed without issue...

Any advice would be really appreciated...

Thanks in advance

 

hmmm....


check tires...

and slow down

ok...

 

The rear tires are pretty decent about 64% of the tread still there, inflated to 33psi, and this happens at about 40 to 50 mph on a not so sharp turn...it feels really weird

 

What tires do you have? A similar problem developed for me when I switched to these crappy Dunlop tires. The problem has gotten worse as the tires have worn down. It never happened with my kumho's.

 

Maybe you have an aftermarket LSD?

 

The tires are Yokohama Advan 4 (I think), and how would I check if it has a LSD? sorry for the noob questions, I am a noob to rwd sports cars, I appreciate all the help though.

 

64%?

an aftermarket LSD would help, not hurt

it could be any number of things - alignment would be the first place to check

 

I saw that too lol.

 

You give me little to work with:

Type of rear tires?
Miles on tires?
Photos of tire treads?
Ambient temperature?

 

Generally you want to accelerate through a turn not coast.

 

Where does 64 percent come from? Inflate tires to the recommended pressure.

 

I'm thinking he meant 64.783% to be more precise

 

Double check and make sure both rear tires are the same size and brand.It sounds like your diff is acting up.Two different size tires can put the diff through hell,and cause what your explaining.

 

Learn to drive?

 

Sorry for the 64%, meant to write 65 and finger slipped...as for the tires they are both the same size, 245/40/19...they are inflated to 33psi which I thought was normal for them as max psi is 50.

If I try to accelerate through the turn, it steps out more...so that didn't work, thanks for the help though.

I will get the exact name of tire and treadwear, as well as pics tomorrow, its dark already.

As for learning to drive, yes you might be right, I am still not very good with a rwd car, however I have been driving for over 11 years and have done autox events and other canyon driving, and so on on fwd and awd cars, and although I am a newb to rwd, im pretty sure this is not what its supposed to feel like. Unfortunately I have not made friends with anyone in Tucson AZ with a Z, so that I can take the same road at the same speed and compare.

The alignment issue sounds like it could be right. I think the alignment is pretty out of whack. New suspension is going on in two weeks, then alignment two weeks (or when springs and shocks settle), I guess we'll see then.

 

Sounds like you might have some toe-out in the back.

 

up here in minnesnowta that's what happens when your e-brake is sticking a little and its icy out......haha but no it definately sounds like something with your diff or suspension is not quite right, i find that this car is pretty easy to control and only comes out for me when i want it to.

 

Alignment, quality of tires, life of VLSD and driving are all huge factors. Driving and AWD and FWD aggresivly is completly different than RWD

 

RWD TCS = Lighter foot on throttle

 

Sounds like bushings to me. I would check them for damage.