About C4 handeling.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,010
Likes: 1
From: Sweden/Stockholm
About C4 handeling.
My car is "tracking" ( sorry i dont know the right english word ) alot in and out of the " wheel tracks " that other cars have made in the tarmac on the highway etc. I hope you know what I talk about :) Is it because I have 275s all way around? How can I minimize this "tracking"..?
Regards
Regards
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: TX
Re: About C4 handeling. (devilfish)
Get your alignment checked. There is a good chance you have toe out in the front. For street driving you want slight toe in, for street/performance toe =0 and for autocrossing you want slight toe out.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: FootHill Ranch Ca
Re: About C4 handeling. (devilfish)
If what your describing is the rear of the car on going straight down the road, It nickname is dog tracking. The rear alignment is out of spec. Theres rear toe and a thrust angle adjustment. Get a 4 wheel computer alignment.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,010
Likes: 1
From: Sweden/Stockholm
Re: About C4 handeling. (BowTie C4)
nah its more the front that goes in and out of the tracks. I have to "force" the car going strait on some higways. Highways with much "tracking" problemes..
Regads
Regads
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,161
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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Re: About C4 handeling. (devilfish)
well i know my front tires has more wear on the outside then the inside of the tire. Could it be that?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 0
From: Redmond, WA
Re: About C4 handeling. (devilfish)
Around here there are certain parts of the Interstate where it's downright dangerous to drive the Vette.
Narrow grooves from studded tires and/or an improper crown on the roadway can cause some of the problems you describe, but if you get it on all road surfaces, then it is probably time to have the alignment checked as previously suggested.
Narrow grooves from studded tires and/or an improper crown on the roadway can cause some of the problems you describe, but if you get it on all road surfaces, then it is probably time to have the alignment checked as previously suggested.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 7,411
Likes: 253
From: Little Elm TX
Re: About C4 handeling. (Airborne)
GM actually switch to a narrower tire up front and a wider one in the back in later models to help solve this problem. I'd agree that if you want to keep the current size tires and are having problems, then get the alignment changed.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
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Re: About C4 handeling. (devilfish)
I would run a search on this one and get some full specs, but if you already know the stock settings, go with that. Id have Toe set to 0 all around.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,031
Likes: 1
From: Republic of Texas
Re: About C4 handeling. (devilfish)
The stock alignment should work unless you plan to road race. If it's been out of alignment too long you may have to buy new tires or find a shop that's willing to play with the alignment a little as the tires themselves can cause the car to track like that. I had an '89 that was horrible on the highway, you could hardly keep it on the road, until I bought 4 new tires and then it was straight and true even at 140ish (MPH).
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: About C4 handeling. (devilfish)
Devilfish, your front tires are worn on the outside because you're going into corners way to fast!:eek: Actually that wear pattern is most likely due to too much camber.
The tracking problem could be due to a caster or toe. Sorry, but my GM Shop Manual only gives alignment specs for the standard 255 tires, not for the 275s that came with my Z52 option and are on your Vette.
I recently had a 4-wheel alignment done at the local Chevy dealer and, with stock 275s, the car tracks like a dream on all roads, even in SE NY and NE NJ.
I realy think a proper alignment will solve the problem, if your tire wear isn't excessive. Severe tire wear can cause tracking & handling problems too and should be corrected before getting the alignment.
The tracking problem could be due to a caster or toe. Sorry, but my GM Shop Manual only gives alignment specs for the standard 255 tires, not for the 275s that came with my Z52 option and are on your Vette.
I recently had a 4-wheel alignment done at the local Chevy dealer and, with stock 275s, the car tracks like a dream on all roads, even in SE NY and NE NJ.
I realy think a proper alignment will solve the problem, if your tire wear isn't excessive. Severe tire wear can cause tracking & handling problems too and should be corrected before getting the alignment.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,010
Likes: 1
From: Sweden/Stockholm
Re: About C4 handeling. (Springer's 95)
thanks for all the input. But I really think I will need som number on these wheel settings, if you could find it It would really help..
regards
regards
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,031
Likes: 1
From: Republic of Texas
Re: About C4 handeling. (devilfish)
Out of my '91 service manual (all measurements are in degrees):
Front:
Caster +6.0 +/- 0.5
Camber +0.5 +/- 0.5
Toe 0 +/- 0.1
Rear:
Camber 0 +/- 0.5
Toe 0 +/- 0.1
Thrust Angle 0 +/- 0.1
Cross Camber 0 + 0.6
That's good for any of the suspensions in '91.
Front:
Caster +6.0 +/- 0.5
Camber +0.5 +/- 0.5
Toe 0 +/- 0.1
Rear:
Camber 0 +/- 0.5
Toe 0 +/- 0.1
Thrust Angle 0 +/- 0.1
Cross Camber 0 + 0.6
That's good for any of the suspensions in '91.
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: TX
Re: About C4 handeling. (devilfish)
If the outside of your tires is wearing faster, you have too much positive camber or too much toe in.
My alignment recommendations for street use only to minimize tire wear and ease drivability
Front:
Camber 0 to 0.5 neg
Caster 6 pos
Toe 1/16 in
Rear:
Camber 0.5 neg
Toe 1/8 in
If you are a mildly agressive driver on the street these settings should give you eve tire wear.
My alignment recommendations for street use only to minimize tire wear and ease drivability
Front:
Camber 0 to 0.5 neg
Caster 6 pos
Toe 1/16 in
Rear:
Camber 0.5 neg
Toe 1/8 in
If you are a mildly agressive driver on the street these settings should give you eve tire wear.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,031
Likes: 1
From: Republic of Texas
Re: About C4 handeling. (kkonen)
Those setting are probably better for the street than what I posted. I was just putting up the Chevrolet spec like was asked for. If you want it to handle well and aren't worried about tire wear, here are the race specs GM recommends in the ZR-1 owners manual:
On the front change the caster to +5, the camber to -2, and the toe to 10' (anyone know what the ' after 10 means in aligment setting terms?)
On the rear change the camber to -1.25 and the toe to 25'
I run these settings (with toe at 0 since I don't know what ' means) on my car and it handles really well :D
On the front change the caster to +5, the camber to -2, and the toe to 10' (anyone know what the ' after 10 means in aligment setting terms?)
On the rear change the camber to -1.25 and the toe to 25'
I run these settings (with toe at 0 since I don't know what ' means) on my car and it handles really well :D
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: TX
Re: About C4 handeling. (91mongoose)
the ' may refer to minutes of angle. However 25' of angle on the rear is a lot of toe, so that may not be it.
I would strongly recommend against zero toe in the rear. Toe in make the tires want to track towards the middle of the car. This is a very good thing in the rear. You always want the rear tires to follow the front. I personally like about 1/8" toe in in the rear. Toe out in the front will help a car turn in better, such as in an autox. This makes the car very "twitchy". It also makes the car want to follow ruts in the roads. Overall it is much harder to drive on the street.
I have -1.6 camber in the front of my car. I don't know how I could get 2 degrees. I had to mill the spacer after removing all the shims to get what I have. I am currently running -1.1 in the rear with no uneven tire wear. I am not an overly aggressive street driver, that is why I go to the track.
I would strongly recommend against zero toe in the rear. Toe in make the tires want to track towards the middle of the car. This is a very good thing in the rear. You always want the rear tires to follow the front. I personally like about 1/8" toe in in the rear. Toe out in the front will help a car turn in better, such as in an autox. This makes the car very "twitchy". It also makes the car want to follow ruts in the roads. Overall it is much harder to drive on the street.
I have -1.6 camber in the front of my car. I don't know how I could get 2 degrees. I had to mill the spacer after removing all the shims to get what I have. I am currently running -1.1 in the rear with no uneven tire wear. I am not an overly aggressive street driver, that is why I go to the track.