1995 Nissan 240SX Traction Issue

[Boltman]

To all:

I've been reading some of the stories here about close calls etc. with regards to the traction issue that has been a problem with the 240's. Yesterday, I was driving to lunch in a light rain, took a left turn at normal speed and the rear end totally came around on me, I hit the grass median, then bounced out into traffic again and luckily I was able to save it without the car going into the other lane. My tires are in really good shape so that wasn't the problem. I know what these cars do as I've wiped out 3 times now (almost 6) so I take it extra careful when it's raining, but has anyone come up with a solution to alleviate this? I've read somewhere about aftermarket rims and larger tires but don't remember where I saw that. My wife was in the car with me when this happened and now she wants me to get rid of it. Any thoughts out there? Thanks!

[badbob2121]

uhh... traction issues??

wow.. i dont even know where to start on this...

ill just say its probably the rider, not the ride....

[A.K.A. Tokio]

I have a 89 240sx. but ive never had tht problem and i run stock rims. did you buy your car upgraded in anyway such as the LSD? havin one would make it easier for your wheels to break loose

[allenms240]

Drop the welded diff. That's what it sounds like you have. If you don't, then theres no way to get rid of it really. It shouldnt be breaking loose in the rain, mines doesnt, even when I try to throw the rear out. The open diff doesnt let me.

[bersh240]

the only thing wrong is the driver.

[A.K.A. Tokio]

If you dont know if you have a LSD or not jack up the car and spin one of your wheels if the other one spins to then you got one. Here check this link out for some more info on LSD which if you didnt know stands for Limited Slip Differential. Hope this helps

http://www.jdmuniverse.com/forums/nissa ... s-lsd.html

[Boltman]

Really....I had read in several reviews that the main issue with this make & year was the rear end was too light and it was a problem. For those that think it's the driver - I'll be glad to sell it to you!

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Yeah it sounds like you are driving with a welded differential or something. If you've done it that many times, you should definitely look into the issue, and in the meantime, take it easy for f*** sake. Go retardedly slow around corners in the rain. I know you said "your tires are in good shape", but what kind of tires are they? How old are they? For all we know, they could be summer specific tires that don't perform well in cold temperatures or are dry rotted/hard or something.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

If you dont know if you have a LSD or not jack up the car and spin one of your wheels if the other one spins to then you got one. Here check this link out for some more info on LSD which if you didnt know stands for Limited Slip Differential. Hope this helps

http://www.jdmuniverse.com/forums/nissa ... s-lsd.html

You sort of need more details than that. You need to have the car in neutral, and the other wheel needs to spin in the SAME direction. If so, then you have some sort of LSD or welded diff. If it goes in the opposite direction, you most likely have an open diff.

[asoomal]

Remove rear sway bar, if equipped.

[A.K.A. Tokio]

Yeah it sounds like you are driving with a welded differential or something. If you've done it that many times, you should definitely look into the issue, and in the meantime, take it easy for fornicates sake. Go retardedly slow around corners in the rain. I know you said "your tires are in good shape", but what kind of tires are they? How old are they? For all we know, they could be summer specific tires that don't perform well in cold temperatures or are dry rotted/hard or something.

Very true take the tire thing into account also

[A.K.A. Tokio]

If you dont know if you have a LSD or not jack up the car and spin one of your wheels if the other one spins to then you got one. Here check this link out for some more info on LSD which if you didnt know stands for Limited Slip Differential. Hope this helps

http://www.jdmuniverse.com/forums/nissa ... s-lsd.html

You sort of need more details than that. You need to have the car in neutral, and the other wheel needs to spin in the SAME direction. If so, then you have some sort of LSD or welded diff. If it goes in the opposite direction, you most likely have an open diff.

lol o yea

[Boltman]

Thanks guys - I'll have that checked into. As for the tires they are about a year and a half old and this is driven in Florida - temp in the mid 70s so cold really wasn't an issue.

[vocationalzero]

buy an all season tire

[zerodameaon]

Throw a few sand bags in the back and you will be better off. Had to do this with my 240 up in Maine when it was snowing lightly. Didn't even need chains and that was with an RB. Also if your lowered and have off camber tires that can pose some issues as less tire is in contact with the pavement.

[Hoffman5982]

Buy a FWD

[conno707]

I thought this was gonna be a good build...

[benz88]

Mine has the VLSD and with my bald summer tires it still doesnt slide out on me unless I make it.

[zenkistic]

My 96 is stupidly light at the back. In general, it's a very light car which can be annoying and dangerous in some situations (especially with the old, stiff suspension).

To OP, gently let off the gas pedal when you are entering the turn, accelerate when you are going out of the turn. RWD is tricky sometimes, but if you learn in the 240, you can drive anything.

[RWD_PURIST]

Take the time to learn driving a RWD car.. Sounds like you let off the gas or stepped on it too abruptly mid corner? You definitely must have done something to upset the balance of the chassis.. That or you got some really crappy tires..

[boarding2008]

Buy a FWD

made me chuckle

im guessing you may have some sort of upgraded diff like other have said. either it be a welded, vlsd, lsd. just learn how to drive tho. not to hard. i have a welded, daily it in the rain, snow(a lot here in buffalo). it can be fun but its not hard to keep it straight.

good luck

[Boltman]

Normally when it's raining I drive like I'm driving on egg shells. I always wait for a big opening in traffic before pulling out because I know I have to go slow around the corner before I can accelerate. One thing I didn't mention because it would've taken too long is you have to know the intersection that I wiped out on. I was at the time stopped at the red light awaiting the green turn signal. The road I was on (going east) intersects at the 'curve' of a north/south road (it's not a four way). When you turn left onto the curve, the north/south road has a steeper than normal embankment for drainage and the turn is more than 90 degrees. I know you have to be there but it's a tight turn and with water running across the banking of the road, it totally caught me off guard. I know I'm not the only one because the grass in the median is all torn up from other people that apparently had the same problem....

[zenkistic]

Yeah, don't worry, just be cautious in the steep banked turns.

I think that 95+ zenkis should have different handling (due to weight distribution, axle distance and overall weight) and therefore I am not convinced that what applies to the rest of the s13/s14s applies to them as well. But this is only an assumption. Can somebody elaborate by posting experience (having driven both generations) or numbers?

[Lobo240sx]

Could be bad pavement on that particular part of the road. Some areas where people would still slide they repaved the road or went over the road to make it course and not smooth. We have that a lot here Austin "the constantly under construction city"

Buy a FWD

LOL. The 1000 HP 240 doesn't leave the driveway when it is raining!

[LoserCard]

240s aren't THAT easy to spin out with normal turning, even in rain. (I take on-ramps 80% of my normal dry weather speed). Seriously though, if you are spinning out that easy either: 1. You have a welded differential. (Turn the steering wheel all the way and do small circles. If your tires chirp then its welded.) or 2. You DEFINITELY need some all season tires. Get some 205s instead of 195 width. General Exclaims UHP is an awesome wet traction tire as well as Goodyear lines.

Oh yeah and as far as the traction thing goes. 240s are excellent on traction, so don't blame the car. Just because people drift with 240s doesn't mean that they have bad traction. Drifting is an intentional loss of traction. As far as handling and traction goes, I would trade my 240 only for a WRX/Evo or s2k but I'm too poor.

[pj]

maybe v-tec kicked in yo?
haha no seriously, try the wheel test, jack it up and spin one, see what the other does, that should tell you if its welded and the rest. if thats not the issue, drive more carefuly, i dunno

[Boltman]

Could be bad pavement on that particular part of the road. Some areas where people would still slide they repaved the road or went over the road to make it course and not smooth. We have that a lot here Austin "the constantly under construction city"

Buy a FWD

LOL. The 1000 HP 240 doesn't leave the driveway when it is raining!

Interesting that you mentioned course road rather than smooth. That's usually when it happens. Mind you, I've only been driving this car 12 years now and put 110,000 miles on it so I'm sure it must be my inexperience.

[zenkistic]

oh, come on, you have put 110k miles and you don't know when you lose the rear on wet/dry/course/smooth?

[pj]

where's ron perlman...

[scotty-2-forty]

Well, first of all I feel for you man. It sucks when something like that happens and poses threat to serious repercussions. I'm glad you are safe.

In reading your post in which you state the environmental details being "it's a tight turn and with water running across the banking of the road, it totally caught [you] off guard", you then later state that you've "been driving this car 12 years now and put 110,000 miles on it so [you're] sure it must be [your] inexperience," albeit sarcastically - or that's how I took it anyway.

My questions to you are - (1) Were you previously aware of this intersection's potential hazard prior to engaging it? (2) Were there any posted highway signs cautioning drivers of this turn? (3) What was the posted speed limit? - The detailed information you provided seems like enough for any car to lose traction, whether FWD or RWD, dependent upon speed.

You state you've wiped out "3 (almost 6)" times so it leads to speculation that IF not familiar with the area in which you were driving, a reduction in speed and vigilant awareness of any upcoming obstacles/hazards would surely have yielded a better result. Again, given your explanation of the road conditions and the surrounding environment, it sounds to me like ANY car exceeding the surface threshold of gravitational momentum vs. fluid dynamics would have fared the same.

Simply put, I wouldn't blame the car, solely. This reads (to me) more like a combination of driver error and the forces of nature. That being said and coming from an avid 240SX performance enthusiast not to mention fellow neighbor in Florida - tell your wife you're keeping the car. Again, glad you're ok.