C4 Steering Damper Evaluation
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 181
Likes: 104
From the photographs I posted, do you have an opinion on the fitment on a ZR-1? Obviously I'm not going to hold you to it!! Just an opinion basis what you've seen would be very helpful.
TIA!
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 610
From: Orange, CA
As I said, even the Cooper tires I have get a little flat spotting that smooths out with driving real quick. Not like the damn Nitto 555G2's I got rid of. I can pull right up on the x-way without having to warm them up, but you can still feel them. These take out the side to side motion (not the out or round) just the little bit of pitching till they round out.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
For those of you that don't have any like this, AND are going to purchase the damper set, I would suggest you purchase one of these sets to help with installation and have in your tool box.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1-...X8PC/311182586
https://www.harborfreight.com/wobble...yABEgIPRfD_BwE
or similar, you will find them invaluable for this and other installations
also a fine tooth ratchet(s) such as these
https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-1...het/1000594925
https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-1...het/1000594937
etc
the greater the tooth count, the less arc is needed for a reset.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1-...X8PC/311182586
https://www.harborfreight.com/wobble...yABEgIPRfD_BwE
or similar, you will find them invaluable for this and other installations
also a fine tooth ratchet(s) such as these
https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-1...het/1000594925
https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-1...het/1000594937
etc
the greater the tooth count, the less arc is needed for a reset.
Last edited by drcook; Oct 24, 2020 at 04:39 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
I would have answered this earlier, but I couldn't see it. I got the email notification you posted it, the page listing posts showed you did, but clicking on this thread would not let me get to it.
there are probably database issues raising their ugly head again here on this website
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 399
From: Tacoma WA
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I had the same issues drcook had with the Nitto 555G2s. Bad flat spotting and very hard to get them heated to smooth them out. Once really heated not a bad tire. Had them on my 92 ZO7.
Edit: probably should have just sent a PM to nomakewan!
Edit: probably should have just sent a PM to nomakewan!
Last edited by Fiberbundle; Oct 24, 2020 at 05:36 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
if I ran it up to 65 it felt like I would do some damage to the car the entire car would be visibly shaking. not a vibration through the wheel, the whole car shaking. same as at 55, the car would shake and the faster you went the worse it was
think about an off balance washing machine, how it shakes and thumps and walks around the basement. my car would shake that bad
I called Nitto. the moron customer service guy's solution was to put my car on jackstands whenever I was not driving it. after being told that kind of BS I will never ever again even look at a Nitto and will tell everyone about my experiences
BTW, these were new tires, not some that had been on the car a long time. NTB warrantied them out
Last edited by drcook; Oct 24, 2020 at 05:57 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 1,321
From: LeClaire Iowa
yes. as soon as it stops raining.
I would have answered this earlier, but I couldn't see it. I got the email notification you posted it, the page listing posts showed you did, but clicking on this thread would not let me get to it.
there are probably database issues raising their ugly head again here on this website
I would have answered this earlier, but I couldn't see it. I got the email notification you posted it, the page listing posts showed you did, but clicking on this thread would not let me get to it.
there are probably database issues raising their ugly head again here on this website
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
I can undue them without having to remove the brackets. Just the nuts/bolts that secure the dampers to the brackets. It will take me longer to get the car up on something than it will to undo/put them back on.
They are going to become Part of the Crew, Part of the Car.
I didn't BLUE, I repeat BLUE Loctite (as mentioned in the instructions) the small 3mm screws at this time. I am pulling the front a-arms off sometime after my knee gets repaired and driving season. I have Del-Alum bushings from Global West for the front, a complete Banski rear suspension setup and a Dana 44 to install. Oh and an x-brace.
That will be good for spring. Then in the fall I will take apart the motor / transmission.
They are going to become Part of the Crew, Part of the Car.
I didn't BLUE, I repeat BLUE Loctite (as mentioned in the instructions) the small 3mm screws at this time. I am pulling the front a-arms off sometime after my knee gets repaired and driving season. I have Del-Alum bushings from Global West for the front, a complete Banski rear suspension setup and a Dana 44 to install. Oh and an x-brace.
That will be good for spring. Then in the fall I will take apart the motor / transmission.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 1,321
From: LeClaire Iowa
Drcook, I got both my knees replaced at the same time a year ago. Dan PS: I pulled my 96 into its winter storage spot 2 weeks before my double operation. Since the drivers door can't open all the way in this spot it took me 20 minutes to get out of the car. I seriously did not think I could. I did.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
I have a torn meniscus. 2nd time. Not supposed to happen. It is not fun being old crippled guys, eh ? I do this because if I quit it is all over. I have been through 22 orthopedic operations on my hands, shoulder and knee. As bad as it is, the alternative is worse. I don't want to get to where I can't move, you know ?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
this time is not as bad as the first go round, the tear would fold under, then pop and I would hit the floor. the worst is half my wrists were removed due to injuries. a procedure called a "proximal carpectomy", my right hand does not bend backward at all
that is why I say if I can put these in, swap a rear end, etc anyone here on the forum can install these, if you can't its time to turn in the man card
these really are not "hard" to install, meaning heavy, pulling on a wrench, etc. it is harder putting the car up on jackstands, or putting the car up on ramps
of course if you have a set of the long gentle sloping ramps, it will make it easier, I just have regular ramps. what I use are big "lego" blocks, used for leveling camping trailers, such as these
or similar. being able to lock them together, it lets you get up to a level that the front spoilers will clear the incline of the ramps, being locked together, they don't slide out as much as trying to use boards do
these are the exact ones we have, however the price has gone up since we purchased ours
https://www.campingworld.com/rv-leve...veling-systems
that is why I say if I can put these in, swap a rear end, etc anyone here on the forum can install these, if you can't its time to turn in the man card
these really are not "hard" to install, meaning heavy, pulling on a wrench, etc. it is harder putting the car up on jackstands, or putting the car up on ramps
of course if you have a set of the long gentle sloping ramps, it will make it easier, I just have regular ramps. what I use are big "lego" blocks, used for leveling camping trailers, such as these
or similar. being able to lock them together, it lets you get up to a level that the front spoilers will clear the incline of the ramps, being locked together, they don't slide out as much as trying to use boards do
these are the exact ones we have, however the price has gone up since we purchased ours
https://www.campingworld.com/rv-leve...veling-systems
Last edited by drcook; Oct 24, 2020 at 11:20 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,019
Likes: 568
From: Conroe Texas
and that's why you need a person in customer service who actually knows his product.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Wednesday (10/28) is supposed to be nice here in Ohio. I will finish the evaluation then. This Friday is supposed to be down to 32 deg with rain in the general timeframe. As long as the rain stays away from the low temps we will be OK, otherwise we could get some snow.
Please go out back and burn some chicken bones and do a sun dance for me. The next week is supposed to be nice (upper 50's) and I would like to get 1 more week of Corvette driving before having to put the car away for the winter.
Please go out back and burn some chicken bones and do a sun dance for me. The next week is supposed to be nice (upper 50's) and I would like to get 1 more week of Corvette driving before having to put the car away for the winter.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Bottle some up and have Scotty beam some over. The weather is degrading fast. Wasn't supposed to rain today and with the forecast as it is with snow in the next few days, if they put the deicer chemicals down, I will just have to finish the evaluation without a with/without test. Sorry. Ohio is what it is.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 610
From: Orange, CA
they would flat spot so bad in 3 days that I would have to drive 10 to 15 miles before I could get on the express way (that is what we call the highway around where I live, or folks of my age do). I live maybe, maybe a mile from the xway ramp. if I drove out of my drive and hit the xway, the car would shake so bad at 55 mph you would think I had square tires. it is utterly ridiculous to have to drive that far before hitting the highway. here in Ohio our driving season can have temps in the 40's all the way to the 90's and the cooler the temp, the longer it took to warm them up
if I ran it up to 65 it felt like I would do some damage to the car the entire car would be visibly shaking. not a vibration through the wheel, the whole car shaking. same as at 55, the car would shake and the faster you went the worse it was
think about an off balance washing machine, how it shakes and thumps and walks around the basement. my car would shake that bad
I called Nitto. the moron customer service guy's solution was to put my car on jackstands whenever I was not driving it. after being told that kind of BS I will never ever again even look at a Nitto and will tell everyone about my experiences
BTW, these were new tires, not some that had been on the car a long time. NTB warrantied them out
if I ran it up to 65 it felt like I would do some damage to the car the entire car would be visibly shaking. not a vibration through the wheel, the whole car shaking. same as at 55, the car would shake and the faster you went the worse it was
think about an off balance washing machine, how it shakes and thumps and walks around the basement. my car would shake that bad
I called Nitto. the moron customer service guy's solution was to put my car on jackstands whenever I was not driving it. after being told that kind of BS I will never ever again even look at a Nitto and will tell everyone about my experiences
BTW, these were new tires, not some that had been on the car a long time. NTB warrantied them out
Got a keen eye on this product though. Since I have a manual I don't have to worry about the automatic cooler lines, so that should at least make part of this install that much easier. Only 'eh' part is the song and dance with the shims, but I'm sure it won't be as bad as I'm imagining. Thank you so much for your honest review, your install walkthrough, and your tip on the 555 G2s!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,062
Likes: 166
From: United States
This is a shame that Nittos do this.. I have read on f Body forums they have the same problem.
I am sure Nitto is aware of it at a engineering level.
But, it makes you not want to buy a tire that sounds like is made very cheap on the cheap..
I am sure Nitto is aware of it at a engineering level.
But, it makes you not want to buy a tire that sounds like is made very cheap on the cheap..