I'm attending my first HPDE July 19th-20th at Gingerman, and my Integra seems to be shaking when I'm on the highway going around 65-70+. I just had the car aligned a few hundred miles ago, and am wondering what the problem could be?

I am going to likely be driving the car at higher speeds at this HPDE day, and I really want to feel safe in the car, as will my instructor at high speeds (not shaking).

Could this be the tie rods giving out or what?

Thanks in Advance,
JP

 

Have the tire balance checked. If not check the balljoints, tie rod ends and wheelbearings.

 

Tire balance would probably be a good thing for me to check at the beginning of every season, because my Azenis sat on my "race rims" for 8 months in the garage without any action.

I guess another trip to my alignment shop is in order....I really wish that I could find a place that offered lifetime alignments.

Thanks for the quick response RJ

I just have so much to do before this weekend that I really need to get on the ball.

JP

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HondaJon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Tire balance would probably be a good thing for me to check at the beginning of every season, because my Azenis sat on my "race rims" for 8 months in the garage without any action.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Track tires get out of balance really quickly due to the rate of wear, picking up rubber off the track and knocking wheel weights off on curbs. If i didnt do my own mounting/balancing i'd never re-balance them.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I guess another trip to my alignment shop is in order....I really wish that I could find a place that offered lifetime alignments.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Pick up some toe plates from racer parts wholesale, or make one of these: https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=267237 , and do your own alignment. It takes a bit of time but its worth it since it doesnt cost $$ to check it or make adjustments.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just have so much to do before this weekend that I really need to get on the ball</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've fallen victim to this so many times, and it sucks. I always get everything ready the week before in terms of car prep, and all my track supplies (fluids, pads, tools, bleeders, funnels, windex etc) are always kept organized in big rubbermaid bins and 2 toolboxes, so in order to leave i just load those up. I usually check over them to make sure i dont need anything the week before.

 

Speaking of things that bother us on the weeks/days up to a lapping day

I am still running on my stock clutch which has 84,000 miles on it

Should I consider swapping this out for a new one before my first HPDE, or is this overkill and getting paranoid? I just don't want to drive 5 hours for a 2 day HPDE and have my clutch blow on the first day and have no way of completing the event or getting home for that matter

Thanks,
JP

 

Honda clutches are pretty reliable - and at under 100K i wouldnt worry about it. It would suck if it blew up and you had to limp home, but unless its showing signs of wear i wouldnt worry. Be easy on it regardless, no need to beat up the clutch or gearbox just doing schools.

RJ

 

i had a problem with balancing aftermarket wheels. IME, stick on wheel weights don't cut it. i found that i could only get a wheel/tire combo to perfectly balance using factory style wheel weights. That said, you can usually only use those if the rim has a lip running around the farthest outer edge, just like stock.

 

Duct tape (or "racer's tape") over stick-on wheel weights is your friend.

 

Don't worry about your clutch. As long as it isn't showing any signs of wear then you should be fine. I have tracked my car twice and the first time it had 93,000 miles on it, and the second it had 98,000. Clutch is still grabbing strong.

There was also a guy with a 93 Civic hatch with stock clutch and he had over 120,000 on it.