Out Of Control

[CHROMEDCRUISER]

Coming back home this evening, I was on the offramp taking a slight turn to connect to the road (going approximately 30-45 mph), when my back tires began to loosen up and the rear-end began to slide to the left a little. The road was a bit wet, so I suppose I may have been taking the offramp a bit fast, or I hit a slick spot. Well, anyways, I took my foot off of the accelerator, gave it a little brake, and within half a second, the rear end really started to slide, and the front end came right along with it, I finally stopped with my front end sticking slightly into the road I was trying to get on, and the other half of the car in the median. Someone was looking out for me because there were no cars coming when I slid. I went through a fairly soft median, that had a slight dip in it, took it pretty hard. My point to all this is that I gave the car a pretty good once over, checked the front end, checked the wheels and tires, checked under the car, and everything looked fine, except a little muddy. I drove the rest of the way home very carefully, and everything seemed to work just fine... could there be something that may not be appearing now, but may down the road? I am due for an oil change in about 300 miles, anything I should ask them to take a look at while they're under the car?

[CREWZIN]

If you just slid, didn't hit anything, didn't hear any hard banging as if you drove over something....you should be OK. Probably didn't even flat spot the tires since the ground was wet. Won't hurt to have someone knowledgeable take a look around the undercarriage though.

[stirfry]

Sounds like it was fun. Ive done that before, and it's always a big sigh of relief when you don't hit anything. I did a 360 coming off a off ramp on a raining night on a CA freeway. I think the idea is to turn into the spin and it strightens out. Sometimes it just doesn't work out that way. Glad you and the PT are fine.[8D] When it rains like it has been CA, GA and Texas the stats seem to be 3 times higher on accidents. [:0]

[JPMS GT]

Check your shorts,Kid, they may be stained!!!

GrandPa[|)]

[CHROMEDCRUISER]

Thanks for all of the input guys.
CREWZIN:I hit the median pretty hard, had a pretty good thud, but I think that was just the springs bottoming out. Will have the mechanic fella's give it a once over and see if they spot anything.

Stirfry: this was one hell of a ride, I was so close to the edge by the time I could do any steering, steering into it would have probably put me in a flat spin. Always remembered that one from the driving test though; steer into the slide.

JPMS: did a quick inventory of body parts after I had spun out, noticed that I needed a new pair of shorts.

Even though I was scared s%$&less after it all happened, I felt confident in the car while I was out of control that I was perfectly safe, until I started to inch towards oncoming traffic.

[milPT]

Hi, It was the break, I'll bet my PT on it. I have taken some very advanced driving courses and when you start to slide, never hit the brake, especially in a turn. If you start to slide resist the need to hit the brakes. Don't hit the gas or the brake, let the wheels grip the road again... then hit the brake, just not hard enough to loose grip again. I know it sounds stupid, but it works. I slide all the time, but I love it... I know, crazy right? Anyway, glad you and your PT are ok. You are right, someone must have been looking out for you![8)]

[quicksilverdon]

If you hit the median pretty hard, you might need an alignmment. Just be aware that the one adjustment (casetr or camber - I forget) requires shims - so ask if they have shims before you have them do an alignment (unless you have dealer do it). I took mine to Sears, they only did half the job, told me I'd have to go to dealer to get shims. [xx(]

[RallyDRock]

agree with Mil.
2 out next time. (dont touch the pedals both feet out)
by braking you took even more weight off of the rear tires giving them less traction. a little gas might have helped but could cause the front to go out. oh and dont countersteer cause the rear will whip around on ya real fast.
i got bit on a ramp like that, it was asphalt and changed to concrete, back came out and i did exactly as you did, luckily kept it ou of the trees.
glad you made it out OK.

[CHROMEDCRUISER]

Would dropping it a gear have helped? I was in fourth gear as I came around the curve... would bringing it down to third been a wise choice? I'm always working on double clutching and blipping when going around turns, and the one time I probably should have used it, it flew right out the window.

[MichaelDay]

Downshifting in the middle of a slid is not wise. You are already losing traction and it would be really easy with a downshift that is slightly off to make the situation worse.

Just keep off the brake pedal and steer SLIGHTLY the direction that the rear end is moving. ANY abrupt movements (steering, brakes, accelerator) will take away what little traction you have left and make the slide worse. There are occasions when the rear is loose and the front is still stuck that a SLIGHT acceleration will help but overdoing it is worse than doing nothing.