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[Z06] Wobbly Z06

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Old Feb 23, 2007 | 01:18 PM
  #1  
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Default Wobbly Z06

At a lil of 100+ my 03 Z06 feels loose. Like I'm almost afraid to switch a lane at that speed. The shocks seem to give a lot of play and every little bump sends the car bouncing up and down. It feels as if the car is just going to come out on me and send me into a slide or a spin. On the street at slower speeds is fine though and the car feels very tight. Is this normal? What can I do to fix this problem?
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Old Feb 23, 2007 | 01:44 PM
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the first thing I would check is tire pressure. If you have 30-35 lbs all the way around that shouldn't be the problem. If it's not the tires the next thing I would do is get your alignment checked.

Have you lowered your car from the stock settings. If so, have you had your car aligned since you lowered it? That is a common problem.

Good Luck
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Old Feb 23, 2007 | 01:55 PM
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Originally Posted by ZOHSIX
At a lil of 100+ my 03 Z06 feels loose. Like I'm almost afraid to switch a lane at that speed. The shocks seem to give a lot of play and every little bump sends the car bouncing up and down. It feels as if the car is just going to come out on me and send me into a slide or a spin. On the street at slower speeds is fine though and the car feels very tight. Is this normal? What can I do to fix this problem?
You're dealing with (IMHO) 2 different issues:

First issue MAY be shocks, the 2004 Z06 comes with a better shock, and it is a direct fit on any Z06 ... see ....

PKZ06SHOCKKIT
(part number) www.gmpartsdirect.com

The second issue is Cali freeways ... they are so bad that every time I hit a bump that jars my teeth ... I say "F**k CalTrans" .... and that happens a lot .... the fact is that there are roads in Iraq that are in better condition than the California freeway system.

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Old Feb 23, 2007 | 02:45 PM
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Brian,

Mom just saw your message on forum. She wanted me to remind you:

1. eat your vegetables.
2. wear clean underwear.
3. no speeding, or she will ground you in your room for a week.
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Old Feb 23, 2007 | 04:03 PM
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Wow my 2003 Z feels unstable at highway speeds also...
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Old Feb 23, 2007 | 04:10 PM
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could be an alignment issue. I have had mine up to 160 and it feels just as stable as it would at any speed. Have your alignment checked and make sure they give you a before and after readout!

Also reading some of the other posts here, it can be bump steer. the 2004 z06 shocks will cure that. I also hear that some type of endlink will fix that as well. Sorry I cant remember the brand
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Old Feb 23, 2007 | 05:18 PM
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Also check control arm bushings. When they are worn out you will get some instability feeling.
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Old Feb 23, 2007 | 06:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Lawdogg
Also check control arm bushings. When they are worn out you will get some instability feeling.
Seeing how they're 4 years old that might not be a bad idea to swap them out reguardless. Are there any aftermarket ones available?
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Old Feb 24, 2007 | 01:17 AM
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Do you have it lowered beyond the factory bolt adjustments, e.g. cut bushings and a lowering kit? If so, you could be bottoming the stock shocks, causing loss of damping and uncontrolled suspension movement. If not, it's probably alignment or something is just worn out.
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Old Feb 24, 2007 | 03:08 AM
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Originally Posted by TheSandman
Wow my 2003 Z feels unstable at highway speeds also...
really? how?
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Old Feb 24, 2007 | 03:14 AM
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Originally Posted by BlackZ06
First issue MAY be shocks, the 2004 Z06 comes with a better shock, and it is a direct fit on any Z06 ... see ....

PKZ06SHOCKKIT
(part number) www.gmpartsdirect.com
Are there any good aftermarket shocks to choose from? Any shocks available with adjustable dampening settings?
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Old Feb 24, 2007 | 12:55 PM
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Originally Posted by ZOHSIX
At a lil of 100+ my 03 Z06 feels loose. Like I'm almost afraid to switch a lane at that speed. The shocks seem to give a lot of play and every little bump sends the car bouncing up and down. It feels as if the car is just going to come out on me and send me into a slide or a spin. On the street at slower speeds is fine though and the car feels very tight. Is this normal? What can I do to fix this problem?
slight chance its your tires. but usually tires start acting goofy around 70-80

otherwise definitely suspension. have a pro look at it. you don't want to get killed !
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Old Feb 24, 2007 | 12:56 PM
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Default tires?

Originally Posted by ZOHSIX
At a lil of 100+ my 03 Z06 feels loose. Like I'm almost afraid to switch a lane at that speed. The shocks seem to give a lot of play and every little bump sends the car bouncing up and down. It feels as if the car is just going to come out on me and send me into a slide or a spin. On the street at slower speeds is fine though and the car feels very tight. Is this normal? What can I do to fix this problem?
slight chance its your tires. but usually tires start acting goofy around 70-80. if you have another set of tires and/or can afford to have a street set and a race set, it is nice for this type of trouble shooting

otherwise definitely suspension. have a pro look at it. you don't want to get killed !
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Old Feb 24, 2007 | 01:50 PM
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Originally Posted by TheSandman
Wow my 2003 Z feels unstable at highway speeds also...
Mine does too.

'03 with 15k miles.

Second owner. Accelerating up to 120MPH - it feels loose in the back and a little wobbel (sp?)....

It always felt that way since i got it 6k miles ago.

I'll prob do a allignment first.
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Old Feb 24, 2007 | 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by rustyguns
really? how?
If i'm cruising around 70mph and switch lanes the rear end feels lose and wobbly. The car is 100% stock and not lowered

Last edited by TheSandman; Feb 24, 2007 at 05:34 PM.
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Old Feb 24, 2007 | 04:16 PM
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There has to be something loose, worn, or broken. My 2002 Z06 has 30k hard miles on it and I could it a bag lunch in it at 120mph while changing lanes and not blink an eye. It is quite stable at 150mph and there is no way the California roads are that much worse than Pennsylvania. We are known on this coast as having poor roads.
(Suspension is all stock, although looking at some Bilsteins)
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Old Feb 24, 2007 | 05:46 PM
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Originally Posted by abn373
There has to be something loose, worn, or broken. My 2002 Z06 has 30k hard miles on it and I could it a bag lunch in it at 120mph while changing lanes and not blink an eye. It is quite stable at 150mph and there is no way the California roads are that much worse than Pennsylvania. We are known on this coast as having poor roads.
(Suspension is all stock, although looking at some Bilsteins)
yeah kinda sounds like broken sway bar connection huh?

the weight seems to be loadin' up and easily spilled to one side when you change lanes? mAybe?

please let us know what you find!
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Old Feb 24, 2007 | 05:49 PM
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Originally Posted by TheSandman
If i'm cruising around 70mph and switch lanes the rear end feels lose and wobbly. The car is 100% stock and not lowered
dang i missed that post! sounds like broken mounts bro!

get your tranny and rear end mounts checked asap!

that can kill you!
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Old Feb 24, 2007 | 06:00 PM
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Originally Posted by TheSandman
If i'm cruising around 70mph and switch lanes the rear end feels lose and wobbly. The car is 100% stock and not lowered
Mine does this a bit too, I have a 17K mile 02 z06, and can be downright scary. The term for this effect is called Tramlining and is particularly noticeable on road seams. I recently contacted a company that specializes in performance suspension systems; they set up a lot of road race cars. They told me it is most likely an alighnment issue. Needles to say, I will be bringing my car into them soon.
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Old Feb 24, 2007 | 06:12 PM
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My 03Z has ~36K miles on it and it runs down the road just fine at triple digit speeds. I just spent 10 days in the LA area and the worst freeway (the person I was visiting was complaining) I rode on seemed smooth as glass compared to the roads in my area. At 145 on the track my car feels planted to the asphalt. Either your car needs an alignment (a little toe in reduces wander), has been lowered to far, has been lowered and not aligned or there is a broken part.

Bill
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