[Z06] Steering Rack Failures
11-07-2013, 09:01 PM
#1
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2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Steering Rack Failures
Did a search and did not turn up anything, this thread is running on the ZR1 Forum...just curious if any Z06 owners, especially Z07 option have experienced this? There is a service bulletin issued for 2012 to 2013, but in the thread some older cars are also experiencing this.
ZR1 ,C6's, have steering rack failures
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Just found out that Zr1's and other C6's with the wider tires are having steering rack failures (rack and pinion) . The failures are attributed to the extra strain the wide tires place on the components when turning at slow speeds. If your car is handling and steering tightly and then becomes twitchy, tracking the road and a slight clunk is felt in the steering wheel you have a failed steering rack. You can feel the very slight clunk at dead center by rocking the wheel back and forth very slightly.
A bulletin has been issued. GM is apparently working with the supplier to correct the weak point of the rack.
Something as simple as tight turns in a parking lot can cause a failure.
ZR1 ,C6's, have steering rack failures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just found out that Zr1's and other C6's with the wider tires are having steering rack failures (rack and pinion) . The failures are attributed to the extra strain the wide tires place on the components when turning at slow speeds. If your car is handling and steering tightly and then becomes twitchy, tracking the road and a slight clunk is felt in the steering wheel you have a failed steering rack. You can feel the very slight clunk at dead center by rocking the wheel back and forth very slightly.
A bulletin has been issued. GM is apparently working with the supplier to correct the weak point of the rack.
Something as simple as tight turns in a parking lot can cause a failure.
11-08-2013, 10:53 AM
#2
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Location: Supporting the Corvette Community at Abel Chevrolet in Rio Vista, CA 707-374-6317 Ext.123
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St. Jude Donor '08
Did a search and did not turn up anything, this thread is running on the ZR1 Forum...just curious if any Z06 owners, especially Z07 option have experienced this? There is a service bulletin issued for 2012 to 2013, but in the thread some older cars are also experiencing this.
ZR1 ,C6's, have steering rack failures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just found out that Zr1's and other C6's with the wider tires are having steering rack failures (rack and pinion) . The failures are attributed to the extra strain the wide tires place on the components when turning at slow speeds. If your car is handling and steering tightly and then becomes twitchy, tracking the road and a slight clunk is felt in the steering wheel you have a failed steering rack. You can feel the very slight clunk at dead center by rocking the wheel back and forth very slightly.
A bulletin has been issued. GM is apparently working with the supplier to correct the weak point of the rack.
Something as simple as tight turns in a parking lot can cause a failure.
ZR1 ,C6's, have steering rack failures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just found out that Zr1's and other C6's with the wider tires are having steering rack failures (rack and pinion) . The failures are attributed to the extra strain the wide tires place on the components when turning at slow speeds. If your car is handling and steering tightly and then becomes twitchy, tracking the road and a slight clunk is felt in the steering wheel you have a failed steering rack. You can feel the very slight clunk at dead center by rocking the wheel back and forth very slightly.
A bulletin has been issued. GM is apparently working with the supplier to correct the weak point of the rack.
Something as simple as tight turns in a parking lot can cause a failure.
FWIW, I have witnessed far less steering rack failures in C6 models than we have in C5's. We work on a very large number of Corvettes each month and we will typically go multiple months in between seeing a steering rack failure. We see a lot of Z06, ZR1 and Z07 optioned vehicles and not many issues at all.
11-08-2013, 11:02 AM
#3
Safety Car
My understanding is that it is a problem mostly on newer C6s due to a change made to the rack in later models. My friend has a '13 Grandsport with a failed rack. It is related to the magnets shifting or coming loose in the magna steer rack. Apparently that is the cause of the on center click. Dealer told him not to have it fixed yet under warranty because it will just fail again. As of a few months ago the fix for the rack wasn't yet available.
11-08-2013, 11:16 AM
#4
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St. Jude Donor '08
My understanding is that it is a problem mostly on newer C6s due to a change made to the rack in later models. My friend has a '13 Grandsport with a failed rack. It is related to the magnets shifting or coming loose in the magna steer rack. Apparently that is the cause of the on center click. Dealer told him not to have it fixed yet under warranty because it will just fail again. As of a few months ago the fix for the rack wasn't yet available.