Front-End 'Floatiness'

[AirCooledExcellence]

I've recently bought a 1983 911 SC sport, and I'm experiencing a very light front-end when travelling at speeds of 70mph and over. It's really un-nerving!!

I have the front lip spoiler and an all-rubber tail which I believe is the standard for the European sport model.

I just wondered if this is normal for a 911, or whether I need some suspension work?.

Cheers,

Tim

[Rot 911]

Possible problems: car has rear spoiler and no front spoiler; toe in/out not set correctly, somebody jacked up the front of the car too high (front should be slightly lower, 1%, than the rear).

[Bill Verburg]

Shock absorbers, ride height, general condition of all suspension components, and tires can all cause the condition you describe.

[stlrj]

The first place I would start is with an alignment.

It could be something as simple as a slight toe adjustment that could make all the difference in how it feels.

I have found that alignment has the greatest influence as to how a 911 feels at all speeds including floatiness at 70mph.

If that fails to improve the situation I would then move on to more exotic $olutions.

Joe

[Early_S_Man]

Excessive play in the front wheel bearings can also cause your symptoms ... even when everything else is OK! See if you can wobble the tires laterally by grabbing the tire at the '11' and '1' positions ... with the steering unlocked and the tires pointed straight ahead? If the movement at the top (12:00 o'clock position) is more than 1/16" or 2 mm, then adjust the bearings!

[liskeard]

When I first got my 1980 SC, I had the same issue. With many items on the to-do list, I started with tires. They where mis-matched brands (front and rear) with different speed ratings (not sure what the previous owner was thinking). Put on new tires and the 'front end-lightness' or as I liked to think of it 'wandering' was fixed.

Ted

[stlrj]

Warren,

A sharp alignment tech should catch that or any other suspension related abnormality as part of his pre-alignment inspection.

Joe

[jerrykrug]

I had new rear tires put on and after that my car drove like *****. Very light and squirley. all I have done so far is check tire psi. Could raising the car on a lift have changed the front end settings?

[stlrj]

Jerry,

They all do that when they're new.

Just keep driving it and you'll see how it all gets better after a couple of hundred miles.

Joe

[wckrause]

New tires have a mold release on them that will wear off in a few hundred miles like Joe said.

IMHO, tires are the single most important factor in how a 911 handles. If you have crappy tires, fix that first.

[Early_S_Man]

Jerry, and others ...

The mold release compound is water soluble, and should have been washed off by the tire store, before you ever got to drive the car ... you shouldn't have to tolerate lousy handling 'for a few hundred miles!'