How stable are you at 100-110

[widebody911]

Originally posted by Bill Douglas
The only time it went a bit whacky was when I came over the crest of a small rise at 120mph and it was a little floaty for 30 seconds then became rock solid again.

30 seconds is a long time @ 120MPH!

[atlporsche]

yeah, a whole mile.

I've been up to 102 in a 1972 Olds 442...it really smoothed out after 90, and was geared to easily get to 130...

the porsche...well, a 1967 912 gets to 40 with no hood or trunklid, no doors, no seat belts, and a driver seat faster than any car on the road (at least it felt like it...)....The looks I got that day....

sjd

[BGCarrera32]

Check the wear on your sway bar bushings. The bushings should seat tightly around the bar...no elliptical type gap/deformation around the bar. Having owned a car that I purchased with questionable bushings, I found them to be pretty deformed upon removal. After replacing the rear sway bar bushings with poly ones I had a big improvement already on that side to side floating/swaying thing.

Although it sounds nuts, I have read that replacing the sway bar bushings can even make a difference in how well the car tracks in a crosswind.

The sum total of swaybar bushings, torsion bar bushings, ball joint condition, tie rods, wheel balance and tires all contribute to the confident feel of the car on the road. Alignment values are only one piece of the puzzle. If the components are well worn, you can get alignment after alignment only to lose those settings after a few miles down the road.

Good luck!

[Bill Douglas]

I was drunk at the time so 30 seconds passed by in a flash.

Not really!

It didn't feel like it was going to go off the road it just didn't feel as tight and taut as it normally does. Plus it was a straight road so that helped.

[thabaer]

Mine is a lot like Bill's. '79 euro lowered, factory front spoiler and rear 1-piece whaletail, no bumpsteer kit and it feels fine.

On runs along I-70 and I-80 from Boulder to SF Bay, it never felt unstable. I even was able to recover from a bad move (on my part) when I was coming around a sweeper at 130; the car in the left lane decided to out of my way to the right, AFTER I had changed into the right lane to go around them. I should know better to close on American land yachts at that speed. At that time I must have been on mid-80s era P7s or P700s.

BTW: my speedo (it checks out accurate at 75) showed 150+ at times w/ a road bike on my roof rack, so it sure seems like the original no-sides turbo tail doesn't create much drag. I would have expected the bike to create so much drag that it would have felt loose.

[CamB]

"like an airplane wing ready for lift off in triple digits."

Yep - same here. No spoilers, aluminium engine and transmission for 60% +/- weight at the back, and enough power to still accelerate hard at 100mph (about when I chicken out) means Cam gets pretty scared pretty quick at those speeds.

It might be better on a nice smooth track... my local one has a back straight which is probably long enough to achieve top speed (estimated at slightly over 150mph (or almost 250kph) at 7000rpm ).

(edit) In a standard SC, 150mph would be at least 6500rpm in top gear on standard sized tyres (I have an SC gearbox but undersize tyres - hence need for 7000rpm).

[pbs911]

It's been real windy here the past couple days, up to 60mph gusts. My SC with RUF front end, spoiler and carrera tail was very stable at 100mph even with the strong side winds. Car is lowered a little below euro spec, 1.25 negative camber in front 2 in the rear, toe set at 1/8", and a drop link bumper steer kit.

[Rouxzy]

I've been running with original everything but what made a big differance was front spoiler and rear tail. 120+ with 26 year old car and rock solid. This winter the suspension bushings are getting replaced. Thinking very seriously about Chuck's brass bushings for the front. Have no squeaks now and I'll be damned if I'm going to put squeaks ones in.

[Victor]

Should feel solid as a rock all the way to top speed. I only get to stretch mine to around 120MPH on track days (straights are too short, not enough HP and brakes, balls not big enough - and other such excuses) and it feels solid as.

(Stock 3.2 Carrera with adjustable Koni's and 120K miles)

[Emission]

I took mine to about 147 mph about two months ago on a long deserted road in Mojave. It was acting 'nervous' at those speeds (doing a bit of wandering and making me concerned). I was very uncomfortable.

Last week, after new Bilstein Sports on all corners, I took her up to 151 mph on an open stretch of smooth pavement out in the Central Valley. She was rock stable and I could have gone faster had it not been for the traffic ahead.

My car is a stock 930.

Stability at speed is a combination of road surface, suspension set-up, tire condition and width, alignment, wind conditions.... lots of variables.

[silverc4s]

Siena911,

You said,

"I noticed that it felt like my car was being slightly buffetted by wind, but there was none in the trees etc. It was kinda like I had to hold the steering more tightly to keep it going straight (does this make sense) "

I think you were in the "prop wash" of that behemouth Bentley....
better go try the same kind of run again without a brick in front of you going 140 or so...

[masraum]

I think Bill is right, if you had been farther back from the Bentley or right on his bumper it would have been another story. Right on his bumper would have been the best from one angle, but from a safety angle it would have been the worst. Try it again sometime without the company. If it still feels bad get the alignment and shocks checked out.

[Siena911]

Thanks for all the replies guys, I was surprised when I checked just now.

I had not considered the effects of the "Brick" but kinda thought I was far enough behind.

So lots of things to check out, I think my bushings are still OK, at least I thought they were, but will check them out again to make sure.

My car is standard ride height and has both front and rear spoilers.

So I think I will be checking my alighnment and making a note of settings.

Go out and replace bushings, ball joints etc for all worn parts and send it in for an alignment to get it right. THEN GO FIND A BRICK

Thanks for the input
Cheers Jakes

[Green 912]

Next time tuck in tight! You can draft and lift up on the go pedal. 911 brakes are better than the Bentlys.

The 912s speedo only goes to 120 but I bury it and then some on the back straight at Mid Ohio. Without the splitter and tail the car feels light, the lap times go down and the steering starts to feel loose at around 90 or so. Keeping the air from under the car makes a big difference and at least killing the wing effect of the 911/912 back end with a ducktail helps as well.
When I installed the aero aids wondered if the added handling would be negated by the added wind signature but I have run the same track, same day with and without them and the lap times are significantly better with the plastic. With that said, IMO A splitter and spoiler would be well worth it for anyone that spends time past 90 MPH.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Siena911

, I think my bushings are still OK, at least I thought they were, but will check them out again to make sure.

Thanks for the input
Cheers Jakes [/B]

what I like to do for a non pro test is drive at 70mph and quickly move the steering wheel and stay in the same lane. if the 911 has a rebound, like it has to keep up with your steeing input you will know it. like the front fenders are trying to catch up with the tires.. soft front bushings are noticably slopy..................Ron

[rs911t]

How stable am I at 100-110 ?

Ask me again in about 60 years. My grandmother lived to 113.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

Greg

[BGCarrera32]

How stable am I at 100-110 ?
Ask me again in about 60 years. My grandmother lived to 113.

Classic..... :>)