Decreasing turning circle???

turbohappy · Oct 29, 2003

The one thing I absolutely hate about my Eclipse is the enormous turning circle! My previous car was a Honda del Sol (30.8 ft circle), but it's obviously a smaller car. However, my fiancee's Hyundai Elantra (32.5 ft circle) is very nimble in comparison to the Eclipse and very similar in size. At 38.1 ft circle, the Eclipse has a larger turning circle than a freaking Minivan (2000 Voyager - 37.6 ft)!!!!! Is there anything that can be done about this? I like my DSM, but this makes driving it a lot less fun for me.

xcelr8n · Oct 29, 2003

e-brake!

rookieupgrade1 · Oct 29, 2003

The turn radius is something you really can't do much about. It is determined by the steering componants and yu tire width. You could go with narrower wheels and then decrese the length of the steering arm to tighten up the radius and tighten the feel.

But I don't know why you would. It would not handle as well and the tire would very likely still rub the inner fender wall.

turbohappy · Oct 29, 2003

Yeah, I guess the inner fender could be a problem. I'll have to measure it and see how much space there is at lock. The only thing I could think of was re-gearing the rack, but that seemed a bit silly

onepimpclipse · Oct 29, 2003

I was 215/55/16 stock. Pretty good turning radius. Now I am 235/45/17. Turning radius is alot worse, but I forget about that when I hit a 20 MPH curve at 50. :thumb:

turbohappy · Oct 29, 2003

There's probably no reasonable way to change this given the size of everything at this point, but what reason would the design engineers have for giving us a truck-like turning circle? The only thing I can think of is engine clearance, but they could have just made the car a bit wider or whatever. Things that make you go hmmmmm.

DSMWillyb · Oct 29, 2003

I deffinitly that the engineers were smokin' the good stuff when they designed the steering components on a 2g (Mine was a '97)... I couldn't flip a bi%ch on my street (normal size)... But my 1G clears it with ease!!! - I love manual steering!!!!!!

Defiant · Oct 30, 2003

There's also health of the CV joint to consider.

You just have to learn to plan better at low speeds.

turbohappy · Oct 30, 2003

It's not that I CAN'T drive it at low speeds, I just think it's silly and very annoying.

Defiant · Oct 31, 2003

Originally posted by turbohappy
It's not that I CAN'T drive it at low speeds, I just think it's silly and very annoying.

I'm with you there- one of my early drivers was a Datsun 1200. My god, what a sweet little car. I think it's circle was 28'.

I've not heard of a fix for the DSM Great Circle Navigation.

allwheelTSI · Oct 31, 2003

Originally posted by onepimpclipse
I was 215/55/16 stock. Pretty good turning radius. Now I am 235/45/17. Turning radius is alot worse, but I forget about that when I hit a 20 MPH curve at 50.

stock are 205's.

onepimpclipse · Nov 3, 2003

Originally posted by allwheelTSI
stock are 205's.

Good call man. I knew that, I just typed the wrong thing. I didn't even notice. :thumb:

Desibabu345 · Nov 3, 2003

Hmm my tires are basically stock and they are 215/55/R16 - what is the difference between 205 and 215? I wonder why the person who had them before changed it.

turbohappy · Nov 3, 2003

215 is wider.

Desibabu345 · Nov 3, 2003

Thanks!

Redmachine · Nov 6, 2003

Here is the reason.... Front wheel drive. All front wheel drives have terrible turning radiuses when pulling shitties. Because it works twice as hard it has to drive the car and steer it so something had to sacrifice. But you are right you forget about it going 50 thru a 20 mph curve

turbohappy · Nov 6, 2003

That's a cop out. Most everything I've driven recently that was FWD has a smaller turning radius. Both CRXs, del Sol, Elantra, and the kicker, Dodge Caravan.

Redmachine · Nov 6, 2003

hey complain to mitsubishi

cOiL · Nov 7, 2003

Originally posted by Defiant
I'm with you there- one of my early drivers was a Datsun 1200. My god, what a sweet little car. I think it's circle was 28'.

you think thats tight? try a wrangler. 16' turning radius. OMG

boostle · Nov 7, 2003

16'! That reminds me of my old Radio Flyer that would tip over when I turned too much

2G turning radius is pretty sad, my brothers 4door Integra turns sharper.

headrec* · Nov 7, 2003

They invented reverse for a reason.

Defiant · Nov 7, 2003

Originally posted by headrec*
They invented reverse for a reason.

Yeah. They HAD to.

The mother of invention is necessity. And she's a bi***.

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Decreasing turning circle???

turbohappy

xcelr8n

rookieupgrade1

turbohappy

onepimpclipse

turbohappy

DSMWillyb

Defiant

turbohappy

Defiant

allwheelTSI

onepimpclipse

Desibabu345

turbohappy

Desibabu345

Redmachine

turbohappy

Redmachine

cOiL

boostle

headrec*

Defiant

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