I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but everytime I take a turn aggressively, I lose the rear end.

I'm not talking about shifting in the turn; I know that'll break the rear end loose. I'm talking about progressively accelerating into the turn.

It's freaking me out. My original S02's have 6400 miles on them and look new, and this happens when the tires are warmed up.

Any suggestions or comments?

 

I was always taught to brake before the turn, start the turn without any braking or throttle, then add throttle about 1/2 way through the turn for the best traction. I've done this with front wheel drive and rear wheel drive cars. Always seems to work with my driving style. Hope that helps!
-Raj

 

You accelerate OUT of a turn, not into it.

 

The easiest thing to do would be to have a friend with more experience than you ride along and observe. If its a constant radius turn, you should be able to maintain a constant throttle level at the threshold of what the tires can handle and just focus on steering. Also, be sure your alignment and tire pressures are normal.

 

Tire pressures, alignment, poor technique.

Likely one of the three...

 

 

Smooth inputs. When you start to accelerate, squeeze the throttle, don't stab it. Same with braking and steering. Be smooth and controlled.

A car can break traction for many reasons, but the most likely in your case seems to be overpowering the rear tires. If the weight of the car in transfered forward from braking/coasting, then a stab at the throttle can easily break the rears loose. If you instead smoothly and slowly apply the throttle, weight will transfer to the rears where you'll then be able to apply more power and accelerate away.

 

Yep..you should be arriving at that turn with your braking done and in the right gear for the bend. You should be starting into the bend at a speed , and with a throttle position that you intend to retain throughout the bend. Err on the side of caution and take it slower if you don't know the road! You should apply firm and PROGRESSIVE acceleration coming out of the bend at the other end.

Be careful. It's all about anticipation and planning and reading the road ahead.

SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTH is the nameof the game.

 

get a front sway bar! and go easy with the gas in the turn, if you lift you spin, if you nail it you spin, this car is the most skiddish I have ever driven.

 

Though everything above is true, couple of other things you should also consider.

I recently got into an accident and it has taught me quite a bit and have me realize I need to take a good lesson as well but following was the elements I've discovered as I walked through my memory.

1. Road condition : needless to say, grip on tire is bad during cold weather as well as bumpy road.

2. VTEC engagement : I was on hair-pin in 2nd gear, judging by sound, I must've in around 5,000 RPM. When I came out and started accelerate, my back-end came out and it happened so fast. I did expected back-end would come out but what surprised me was how fast it came out. It wasn't usual fish tail I used to have. One of my theory is that car must've engaged to vtec and sudden change in power band must've made car swerve faster.

3. Driver condition : I admit that I'm not a best driver nor not even close. But I think my driving skill is above average. Here's the catch. I worked for 2 days and nights straight before the accident. Though I felt ok, my condition wasn't any where near driving which impaired judgment. When I tried to correct the direction, I ended up over correcting it.

In my summary, take easy when road and your condition isn't optimal. Also if you are making a turn with RPM hair below VTEC engagement, hold it until you are straight. And finally, DO NOT underestimate slow speed. You could loose your grip even when you are doing 15 Mph. It's all depend on which gear and Engine speed which determines how much torque and HP is transferred to your rear wheel.

Have safe driving.
Cheers,