Dangerous Suspension Problem
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 8
From: Houston TX
Dangerous Suspension Problem
I just picked up a 96 LT4 with 60K on the clock yesterday from a dealer in another state and drove it back.
My issue is that when you take any but the gentlest left-hand corner / curve the back end swings out all of a sudden. The car doesn't break traction, but just bumps the back end out. The first time it did this I almost put it into the expressway barrier.
Another car I had exhibited similar symptoms once and it was a suspension bushing stepping over where it was supposed to shoulder up.
I don't know much about the design of these cars yet, as I JUST bought one. Can you guys please help me diagnose this problem?
Problem 2: The brakes seem to work fine, but when you turn a corner / sharp curve / park the driver side rear brake makes a horrible metal on metal shrieking noise. I immediately think brakes, but they don't grind when stopping and seem to work fine. Thoughts?
My issue is that when you take any but the gentlest left-hand corner / curve the back end swings out all of a sudden. The car doesn't break traction, but just bumps the back end out. The first time it did this I almost put it into the expressway barrier.
Another car I had exhibited similar symptoms once and it was a suspension bushing stepping over where it was supposed to shoulder up.
I don't know much about the design of these cars yet, as I JUST bought one. Can you guys please help me diagnose this problem?
Problem 2: The brakes seem to work fine, but when you turn a corner / sharp curve / park the driver side rear brake makes a horrible metal on metal shrieking noise. I immediately think brakes, but they don't grind when stopping and seem to work fine. Thoughts?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
I take it you did not even test drive the car before buying it.
Get under the car and check. There is nothing mysterious about the suspension on these.
How to raise:
Click HERE
Get under the car and check. There is nothing mysterious about the suspension on these.
How to raise:
Click HERE
Last edited by 86PACER; Mar 2, 2009 at 06:20 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 18
From: Raleigh, NC
I had a wheel bearing failure that was letting the rotor touch the caliper bracket when I turned corners. That sounds like what you are describing.
It's easy to check, just jack up the car and wiggle the wheel.
It's easy to check, just jack up the car and wiggle the wheel.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
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St. Jude Donor '12
Drawings galore in the FSM, if search is working look for "blackharleyman" he posted lots of pictures of his suspension. There are also lots of other posts here with rear suspension pictures.
For parts depends on what you need. Wheel bearings - Corvette recycling has a great deal for NOS rears.
I bought my master bushing set directly from energy suspensions if I recall correctly.
I bought the sway bar and end link bushing set from Summit Racing. moog outer toe ends from RockAuto.
And from your description you have something broke or disconnected back there.
Mine was "sloppy" until I replaces all the bushings and hubs. Now it feels much tighter.
My passenger rear hub had a little play and when I took it off it fell apart in my hands!
For parts depends on what you need. Wheel bearings - Corvette recycling has a great deal for NOS rears.
I bought my master bushing set directly from energy suspensions if I recall correctly.
I bought the sway bar and end link bushing set from Summit Racing. moog outer toe ends from RockAuto.
And from your description you have something broke or disconnected back there.
Mine was "sloppy" until I replaces all the bushings and hubs. Now it feels much tighter.
My passenger rear hub had a little play and when I took it off it fell apart in my hands!
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Melting Slicks
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From: Warwick RI
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me too
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 8
From: Houston TX
Well it turns out the issue was more dangerous than I thought. It was the front wheel bearing (also causing the metallic grinding noise by grinding the rotor on the mounting bracket). It had SICK amounts of play in it. I took it to a Vette shop and the owner said it's the worst he's ever seen! I mean this thing was literally ready to fall off!
The part looks pretty new, but it was some cheap Chinese replacement part...It had no lubrication in it and over the course of my 1200 mile drive back to Texas it had eaten itself alive. It got so hot that parts of it had actually oxidized.
So I'm having it fixed (with an AC Delco part) and picking it up later today. Hopefully I can just drive it and enjoy it for awhile now...
Dang those wheel bearing are expensive!!!
The part looks pretty new, but it was some cheap Chinese replacement part...It had no lubrication in it and over the course of my 1200 mile drive back to Texas it had eaten itself alive. It got so hot that parts of it had actually oxidized.
So I'm having it fixed (with an AC Delco part) and picking it up later today. Hopefully I can just drive it and enjoy it for awhile now...
Dang those wheel bearing are expensive!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
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St. Jude Donor '12
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 8
From: Houston TX
That's actually pretty cheap. I know there's a bit of a price markup on parts from a shop, but an AC Delco one is running me around $500 from the shop, maybe a little less. The quote was $589 installed.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 11,628
Likes: 1
From: Sherwood, Arkansas
There is the problem! Lots of warnings have been posted about that.
Especially when you have the work done by a shop.
Especially when you have the work done by a shop.