Flat Spots!!!

SGB · SGB's Garage

Thank GOD the 911 board has brought a horible and hideous reality to light! As echoed in multiple announcements of technical rectification devices (thank you again, god...) from product suppliers who "understand", finally, the massive inpediment to driving satisfaction created by

flat spots.

We would have never known, trundling along in our four cylinder ignorance.

Again, I can't say enough about this. The effect of this engineering challenge- curiously left unaddressed by the magicians in Stuttgart- cannot go unresolved. After exhuastive research at contruction sites around the state, I have concluded that unset concrete never leaves me with flat spots in the morning (at least the tires), so I now jackhammer the driveway out and repour it every night. Done. Its a little labor intensive, but thats the 914 way!

So I say-
"Out, flat spot!"

I worried that I might obsess over this, but I think everything is OK now.

MXMARK · 12-28-2003, 10:21 AM

I agree, My Father in law brings a new load of asphalt over every night. No more flat spots! It is getting harder to get to the top of the mound but I think I can buy a loader and load his truck back up again and start over.
Just a thought, Could I take the tires off of the car and off of the rims and remount and balance them every morning before work?
What if I put some Speedracer jacks under the car?
Maybe park in the grass?
I love the 914. Thanks Mark

Jim Smolka · 12-28-2003, 02:24 PM

Instead of new concrete or new asphalt, a simple soulution has been used instead. I by square tires.

The next solution would be install the 4 air jacks like the F1 cars have.

MXMARK · 12-28-2003, 02:50 PM

I thought about the square tire thing but what if you park on the sharp corner of the tire. WAIT, square tires don't roll very easy. I quess you need that 3.2L to get the rolling started. How fast do you need to get up to for the ride to smooth out?
Thanks Mark

Jim Smolka · 12-29-2003, 01:54 AM

Mark,

Simply dump the clutch and then the ride smooths out about 110+. Corner speed is amazing great and if a spin happens, no worries about a flat spot

MXMARK · 12-29-2003, 08:10 AM

Jim & SBG, That's some funny stuff. Mark

SGB · SGB's Garage

I may regret my smart-ass attitude 'bout flat spots-
because right after my first silly post I broke my hip in a bicycle crash and won't be driving my car for several more weeks. Well, more than several. Clutch leg is prob SOL for another 9 or 10 weeks. I'm gonna get 'em. FLAT SPOTS! Really flat spots. It will sit all winter. My brother is gonna be here next week, and he will gladly flail it around for a while. But after that it will sit. And sit. Andsit. I started thinking a little more about FLAT SPOTS! I guess it could be a real problem for a car that is only autocrossed. Seems like it would never have enough run-time to spin itself round. So, I'll let you know in a few months what flat spots feel like, and how long it takes to run 'em out. It may make for interesting discovery.

Jim Smolka · 01-10-2004, 10:18 AM

Sorry to hear about the crash and your injury. Hope come back strong.

I had to give up bike riding on the road, way too nutty. Now I mountain bike

MXMARK · 01-10-2004, 10:32 AM

SGB, Wow I am sorry to hear about your accident. I hope the hip is feeling better. I know what it feels like, I broke my femur when I was 15. On the subject of flat spots I did leave my 914 sitting for about 9 months. It took 2 drives to get rid of the flat spots. Be careful not to let the rubber go bad, (dry rot, stiffness, chunking). I don't want to here about another broken bone. Get better soon. Good Luck Mark.