C4 steering & clutch pedal function
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C4 steering & clutch pedal function
Greetings,
I am new to this site. I hope I can tap into your C4 experience and get a few questions answered. I just bought a 1995 C4 coupe, manual, for an everyday driver. This is my first C4. It's a nice example, 42K miles and well kept. Car is stock.
My questions are the following:
1) Steering is very heavy.
2) Clutch pedal throw is very stiff.
I am curious if these are "as designed" or malfunctioning. I have owned a C5 and a C7. I currently own a 2013 C6 427 convertible. The steering and clutch pedal on these cars felt / feel totally different than my C4 as far as "lightness" of function. I once owned a 1970 Z28 with wide tires and manual steering. The C4 steering is not that heavy but heavier than other power-assisted units I have experienced. My C4's steering makes it difficult to go fast on a winding road as I have to muscle the steering while shifting through the gears. The stiff clutch pedal interferes with quick shifts and it's also a chore in stop and go traffic.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Joe
I am new to this site. I hope I can tap into your C4 experience and get a few questions answered. I just bought a 1995 C4 coupe, manual, for an everyday driver. This is my first C4. It's a nice example, 42K miles and well kept. Car is stock.
My questions are the following:
1) Steering is very heavy.
2) Clutch pedal throw is very stiff.
I am curious if these are "as designed" or malfunctioning. I have owned a C5 and a C7. I currently own a 2013 C6 427 convertible. The steering and clutch pedal on these cars felt / feel totally different than my C4 as far as "lightness" of function. I once owned a 1970 Z28 with wide tires and manual steering. The C4 steering is not that heavy but heavier than other power-assisted units I have experienced. My C4's steering makes it difficult to go fast on a winding road as I have to muscle the steering while shifting through the gears. The stiff clutch pedal interferes with quick shifts and it's also a chore in stop and go traffic.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Joe
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Well first check your tire pressure and then PS fluid. Make sure they are right. The tires and age will contribute too.
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Joined: Sep 2018
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From: Georgia
It’s not grandma’s Lexus, but I haven’t found steering or clutch inputs especially taxing. Have you tried putting your car in accessory mode and turning the wheel? Like you alluded to, you probably would be able to tell if the steering was unboosted. It’s not a great idea to shift gears mid-corner anyway 
Maybe you’re just getting old.
Maybe you’re just getting old.
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I hadn't driven a stick shift since I was 16 so too find my '89 clutch a tad "stiff" but my left knee seems to have "adapted" to it after a few months.
Now I don't notice the clutch as being stiff at all.
Now I don't notice the clutch as being stiff at all.
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Joined: Jul 2019
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I'm also "old" (only in the body, not in spirit) and have owned many types of vehicles over the years. I just bought my 88 a few days ago. Compared to most newer (or over-boosted) steering systems, I find it "heavy" as well. But not as bad as a manual steering rack. Mostly only when moving slow or stopped. I just chalk it up to being a "performance car" and wide tires because the car's "road feel" through the wheel is still pretty good.
Last edited by Tourmax; Jul 20, 2019 at 09:34 AM.
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Thank you, Tourmax. That is very helpful. So, I have my answer that these are normal aspects of the C4. Love the car. To me it always was one of the most beautiful designs of all the series. But I am starting to change things to my liking. Installed a Core shifter with the pistol grip. Very happy with it. It has much improved action - shorter throws, crisper without the rubbery feel of the stock unit (rubber coupling deleted), enhanced neutral centering. Bought NXTStep axle back muffler units. Waiting for delivery. Stock units are too quiet. Thinking about headers and doing something with the cats for a few more HP. Accustomed to my other Vettes - past and the current 427. LT1 is kinda slow compared to even my prior C5 which had an extra 50HP and more torque.
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Who’s callin’ who old. JK
the c4 zf6 is basically a diesel truck transmission cobbled into a sportscar.
its heavy, long throw’d shifts. Its not like a honda (like the 09 z06 i drove).
and that optispark lt1 is not slow. Its easily modd
if i bought a c7, first thing id do is tAke out its lt1, and put in an optispark lt1 (bored/stroked to 383 along with afr comp port eliminator 195 heads - that flow ls3 head numbers)
the c4 zf6 is basically a diesel truck transmission cobbled into a sportscar.
its heavy, long throw’d shifts. Its not like a honda (like the 09 z06 i drove).
and that optispark lt1 is not slow. Its easily modd
if i bought a c7, first thing id do is tAke out its lt1, and put in an optispark lt1 (bored/stroked to 383 along with afr comp port eliminator 195 heads - that flow ls3 head numbers)
Last edited by dizwiz24; Jul 22, 2019 at 03:09 PM.
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So tell me the advantages you see with the optispark LT1 over the 6.2L C7 LTI. I am very curious. I owned a 2016 C7 Stingray. (Sold it to buy my C6 427). That C7 was potent. Great engine. In the right hands, it was supposedly almost as fast as the C6 Z06.
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: South-central Missouri
Greetings,
I am new to this site. I hope I can tap into your C4 experience and get a few questions answered. I just bought a 1995 C4 coupe, manual, for an everyday driver. This is my first C4. It's a nice example, 42K miles and well kept. Car is stock.
My questions are the following:
1) Steering is very heavy.
2) Clutch pedal throw is very stiff.
I am curious if these are "as designed" or malfunctioning. I have owned a C5 and a C7. I currently own a 2013 C6 427 convertible. The steering and clutch pedal on these cars felt / feel totally different than my C4 as far as "lightness" of function. I once owned a 1970 Z28 with wide tires and manual steering. The C4 steering is not that heavy but heavier than other power-assisted units I have experienced. My C4's steering makes it difficult to go fast on a winding road as I have to muscle the steering while shifting through the gears. The stiff clutch pedal interferes with quick shifts and it's also a chore in stop and go traffic.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Joe
I am new to this site. I hope I can tap into your C4 experience and get a few questions answered. I just bought a 1995 C4 coupe, manual, for an everyday driver. This is my first C4. It's a nice example, 42K miles and well kept. Car is stock.
My questions are the following:
1) Steering is very heavy.
2) Clutch pedal throw is very stiff.
I am curious if these are "as designed" or malfunctioning. I have owned a C5 and a C7. I currently own a 2013 C6 427 convertible. The steering and clutch pedal on these cars felt / feel totally different than my C4 as far as "lightness" of function. I once owned a 1970 Z28 with wide tires and manual steering. The C4 steering is not that heavy but heavier than other power-assisted units I have experienced. My C4's steering makes it difficult to go fast on a winding road as I have to muscle the steering while shifting through the gears. The stiff clutch pedal interferes with quick shifts and it's also a chore in stop and go traffic.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Joe
As for clutch effort, we can't evaluate your experiences. So, see if you can drive another C4 and compare your car to BOTH the steering and clutch effort and then decide.
FWIW, Ive driven C3s, C4s, C5s, and C6s - all w/ manual transmissions. And, as I think back, the differences between any of the C4+ Vettes was NOT enough to be notable: all were nearly the same...if that helps.
.
Last edited by Paul Workman; Jul 23, 2019 at 09:04 AM. Reason: typo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2016
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From: Langley BC
I do find the clutch pedel on my 88' fairly stiff compared to newer cars. The steeeing is a little heavier than newer cars, but I would not classify it as being a chore to steer at speed, in fact I find it very percsise at speed, but a little heavy in a parking lot. So I question wheather something is going on if your steering is that stiff. I am only 32 so that may be part of it but still even if your okder the steering shouldn't be that heavy especially at speed.
I had to replace the rack and power steering pump in mine many years ago, it wasn't leaking or anything but the steering was seriously heavy, the new rack/ pump fixed the heavy steering.
I had to replace the rack and power steering pump in mine many years ago, it wasn't leaking or anything but the steering was seriously heavy, the new rack/ pump fixed the heavy steering.
Last edited by DMITTZ; Jul 24, 2019 at 10:31 AM.
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Thx, DMITTZ. Your comments are particularly helpful. I think the clutch pedal movement is stiff because of age and wear. It has a barely perceptible noise when depressing the pedal. I told my mechanic to lube the linkage but it did not help. Anyway, I have gotten used to it. The steering I can also deal with if I must but I do not like it & can not seem to talk myself into ignoring it, so I may pursue it with a Corvette expert. My regular mechanic is an honest, decent guy but not a Vette man.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,778
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From: Langley BC
Yes, proabbly worth investigating. I took mine out for a short drive yesterday and paid particular attention to the steering effort at low speed, again in a parking its a little heavy compared to a newer car but certainly not hard to steer. Let us know what you find. By the way I found in mine when the clutch is worn and clutch hydralics are old the pedal is a fair bit heavier then after I replaced all that stuff.
Last edited by DMITTZ; Jul 25, 2019 at 04:05 PM.
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Thx. I found a group near me that specializes in Corvettes. As soon as I get the stuff looked at, I will post the outcome. Also, going to have them install newly purchased axle back free flow mufflers. I currently live in an apartment so I can't do the work myself like in the past. I previously enjoyed doing the uncomplicated jobs.
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Got my car back from County Corvette in Westchester, PA. Nice group and very happy with their work though not inexpensive. They said my steering and clutch pedal effort are within design parameters. Anyway, I have acclimated to it all. Put on a set of axle back exhausts. Sound nice. Thanks to everyone who helped out with advice.
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The clutch pedal in my 96 lt4 is definitely stiffer than the clutch pedal in my cobalt ss, and my dad's '17 grand sport. As is the steering. But I consider the steering weigh to be "just right".