uncomfortable driving sensation, normal?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 850
Likes: 12
From: Shakopee MN
uncomfortable driving sensation, normal?
If you've seen some of my posts, you will have seen me replace/refurb my entire front and rear suspension including differential and steering box. This was done before I drove my car even once as it wasn't road worthy. The only other vette I've driven is my uncles' '70 back that was way back in 1995.
There are times when it feels like my rear tire goes over a bump that the whole car "feels" like it lurches to one side. I've looked at my rear components while it's parked pushing side to side and done see any movement in the rim, rubber sidewall just flexes a bit like normal. I'd love to get a HDPro cam and mount it back there to see what's happening, but I don't have one at the moment.
I was just curious if this is normal behavior for a vette and I'm just not "used to it", or if there's possibly something wrong.
Tires are brand new, complete rebuild on trailing arms, complete differential rebuild, new monofiber springs, everything's been gone through. I've read about bump steer, and while it may be part of the problem, it mostly feels like it's coming from the rear suspension and not the front.
There are times when it feels like my rear tire goes over a bump that the whole car "feels" like it lurches to one side. I've looked at my rear components while it's parked pushing side to side and done see any movement in the rim, rubber sidewall just flexes a bit like normal. I'd love to get a HDPro cam and mount it back there to see what's happening, but I don't have one at the moment.
I was just curious if this is normal behavior for a vette and I'm just not "used to it", or if there's possibly something wrong.
Tires are brand new, complete rebuild on trailing arms, complete differential rebuild, new monofiber springs, everything's been gone through. I've read about bump steer, and while it may be part of the problem, it mostly feels like it's coming from the rear suspension and not the front.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 850
Likes: 12
From: Shakopee MN
yes
Immediately after I finished my front suspension, I had a complete 4 wheel alignment done to factory specs. This was done at a Goodyear shop that is used by my local Classics Plus restoration shop. I had specifically asked for the guy who does the classic car alignment. I watched him closely as he did the procedure. The car tracks straight as an arrow on smooth roads without me touching the steering wheel.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 850
Likes: 12
From: Shakopee MN
The differential was rebuilt by Paul Walter at Northside Corvette, a highly recommended Corvette only service guy here in Minneapolis. The car doesn't have much more than 500 miles on it since I bought it in Aug 2010.
When the warm weather returns, I'll have to get under the car and have someone shake it around a bit to see if I've missed anything. I may have to get me a GoPro HD cam to satisfy my inner brain that there's nothing moving back there that shouldn't be.
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 581
Likes: 5
From: BC
It's unlikely that you will see anything watching underneath while someone shakes the car.
What you need to do is block the car up by the frame then put your floor jack under the rear spring bolt and take the spring tension off the trailing arm. This will unload the suspension and allow it to move freely. Now move your wheels around.
It does sound like something loose. If it takes a fairly large bump to make it move you may not see it that easily either. You may need to take a pry bar under there and try moving things around. Put a 2x4 under the tire and lift and wiggle side to side. Look for evidence of movement around bolt heads. Consider all the sources of looseness, ie follow the load back to the car. Wheels, wheel bearings to trailing arms, trailing arm to frame through the frt bushing, through the lower strut (bushings) to the anchor under the diff (loose?), diff to frame (2 places diff to crossmember, crossmember to frame), through the axle again to the difff, (u-joints?).
Good luck
Steve g
What you need to do is block the car up by the frame then put your floor jack under the rear spring bolt and take the spring tension off the trailing arm. This will unload the suspension and allow it to move freely. Now move your wheels around.
It does sound like something loose. If it takes a fairly large bump to make it move you may not see it that easily either. You may need to take a pry bar under there and try moving things around. Put a 2x4 under the tire and lift and wiggle side to side. Look for evidence of movement around bolt heads. Consider all the sources of looseness, ie follow the load back to the car. Wheels, wheel bearings to trailing arms, trailing arm to frame through the frt bushing, through the lower strut (bushings) to the anchor under the diff (loose?), diff to frame (2 places diff to crossmember, crossmember to frame), through the axle again to the difff, (u-joints?).
Good luck
Steve g
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Newport News VA
I've found that tire inflation makes a big difference in handling. I've got 2 tire diagonally opposed with slow leaks. When the difference is 8 psi or more the car becomes a bit skittish on highways and really skittish on fast 2 lane country roads with lots of crown and off camber turns.
Might want to re-check the tire pressure. Also I found that 30 psi all around works better than the 30/35 recommended on the door plate.
Might want to re-check the tire pressure. Also I found that 30 psi all around works better than the 30/35 recommended on the door plate.
Asymmetrical toe in can cause what has been mentioned.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: some hole in the ground town- camp verde:) arizona
i have the stock 3ft wide (sarcastic) tires at all 4 corners and lots of new suspension parts. all i can say is this car drives like a truck. the suspension is pretty stiff, and i feel every bump through the whole car. i've talked with another person who used to own a 75 or 76 (memory is no good) and he too said it drove like a truck. personally i wouldn't worry about it, but if it bugs you then see what you can find out. also because of those tires, the car tries to follow every line/crack in the road. if there's uneven pavement the car goes all over
Last edited by 75vetteman; Feb 9, 2012 at 12:48 PM.
