Thread: Juke Nismo RS spin out at Road Atlanta

I did a track day at Road Atlanta June 16th with Jzilla. Had some early session boosting issues after finding out my factory boost control solenoid was dying and spiking to 37psi. Bypassed the solenoid to direct wastegate spring pressure (14psi) just so I get could some runs in. Everything was going great until last session of the day. At some point in the last session the ABS light came on and I started noticed I was locking rear tires up under trail braking. Exiting Turn 12 is when I noticed the ABS light on. Braking in for Turn 1 at about 115 mph the front right locked up and I went off Turn 1 backwards into the gravel pit at about 70-80 mph. No damage to the car, other than completely ruined all four 275/35R18 Continental Extreme Contact DW tires.

https://youtu.be/pT2hmV-gwo4

wtf......why did ABS do that to you? I am very relieved to hear you are well and the car is relatively undamaged. Quite a scary thing that the car is trying to think that you are in danger or peril and the ABS responded that way.....

Super relieved you are ok and nothing too terrible happened. One crazy and strange experience that is for sure. I see the very very HARD black streaks from the tires locked up. ABS is supposed ot stop that from happening but it looks like all the wheels went full lock. I see smoke before your car starts turning from the right side but the video is from far away and I really cannot tell. You know better than I. still very weird. I would be hesitant in driving that Juke again until that ABS can eff off!

Apparently the same issues that plague 350Z drivers will plague the Jukes. Has something to do with flexing the wheel bearing hard enough that it distorts the wheel speed signal and confuses the ABS. It thinks a wheel is locking up when it is not and reduces brake pressure to offending wheel. Went I got on the brakes for Turn 1 the steering wheel had a hard tug to right and that's when I started to spin. So that would mean the front left wheel bearing is giving me issues. It would make since since Road Atlanta has some pretty high g-loading right turns, combined with the fact I am running steam roller sized tires for a fwd car.
Made for a very long drive home keeping the speeds down due to the flat spotted tires shaking the car so bad.

The ABS light stayed on for an hour after leaving the track on my way home. I can still pull up the past codes on the ABS system. So tomorrow at work should confirm my suspicions unless something else is going on.

Scary as f&$k. Glad you are well.

Watching the video, without reading the description I assumed it was a freak ABS failure. That kind of thing doesn't happen with simple driver inputs.
Glad to hear you stopped before the wall and no real harm done. Great to have it on video!

After hearing about ABS issues with BMW E36s (on rare occasions the ABS will think you've locked the tires when they are still rolling, resulting in 25% braking force no matter how hard you press the pedal) I now pull the ABS fuse on any car with ABS before getting out on the track (when I remember to that is). Typical ABS systems certainly haven't ever helped me on the track...

WOW. The day I take the Juke up past 100MPH is the day I'm well - on a track, haha.

It's not SLOW, but not fast either. It's halfway between the SE-R and the 1.8 Versa hatch I just got (122hp, 127ft lbs)

Glad you are ok OP. Thats some wild stuff.

I was thinking when reading your post that all the tires were probably flat spotted. In my 92 VVL w/ NX brakes (and shitty Nankang tires) I slammed on the brakes as hard as possible, leaving a plume of smoke at about 40mph to avoid hitting some lady who pulled out in front of me and the fronts were ruined - can only imagine 80

You should ride in a Juke when it is going 130+ mph. Surreal moment for sure. 1.6L of turbo fury being unleashed.

I should also mention my Juke makes 241whp and 323 lb-ft of torque At 24psi on stock turbo. So when I did this trackday only on 14psi Turbosmart wastegate spring pressure it was still trucking along pretty good. Stock wastegate spring pressure is 6psi.

Except a CVT equipped Juke will never go that fast, only manuals will.

And the manual Jukes are only FWD correct? 323 ft lbs torque is insane. I wish I lived around you so I could get a ride. I can't imagine

Correct