[Z06] Differential or something else?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Differential or something else?
Hi guys,
I'll try to keep this short... '02 Z06, when I back up, wheels turned full left or right I get a significant bump like I just ran over a log. It feels like it's the diff but almost feels like the front wheel hops when it happens. There is a bulletin and the first thing is to flush and replace fluids in the diff... did that with no results... the next step is the clutch pack... this car only has 40K..getting conflicting info on the fix and wanted some input. I have been told everything from rebuild to a new rearend. Any help greatly appreciated! Thanks, John
I'll try to keep this short... '02 Z06, when I back up, wheels turned full left or right I get a significant bump like I just ran over a log. It feels like it's the diff but almost feels like the front wheel hops when it happens. There is a bulletin and the first thing is to flush and replace fluids in the diff... did that with no results... the next step is the clutch pack... this car only has 40K..getting conflicting info on the fix and wanted some input. I have been told everything from rebuild to a new rearend. Any help greatly appreciated! Thanks, John
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
Same exact issue here. Realized that it happens way more in the winter / cold weather. Take your car for a long drive, then try it again and see if you feel it. I've found that when the car / differential warm up, it's less noticeable.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 89
From: Indy IN
It's normal
It is the front wheels hopping, it's the differnce in wheel direction when the tires are turned to full lock. It's normal and doesn't have anything to do with the differential.
The front steering geometry works perfectly in the normal steering range. When you get to high steer angles the geometry goes off so you get the hopping at low speeds and full lock.
The front steering geometry works perfectly in the normal steering range. When you get to high steer angles the geometry goes off so you get the hopping at low speeds and full lock.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,699
Likes: 16
From: Sun City- Menifee Calif.
It is the front wheels hopping, it's the differnce in wheel direction when the tires are turned to full lock. It's normal and doesn't have anything to do with the differential.
The front steering geometry works perfectly in the normal steering range. When you get to high steer angles the geometry goes off so you get the hopping at low speeds and full lock.
The front steering geometry works perfectly in the normal steering range. When you get to high steer angles the geometry goes off so you get the hopping at low speeds and full lock.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Yeah folks the cold makes a difference for sure but it doesn't go completely away when the car is totally warmed up... I live in SC... can't imagine a corvette built and these are issues that were not addressed/... even so it can't be good for the rear end if cold and you can't back out of a parking lot without a significant "bump" in the rear end. I was told to pull 4 oz of fluid and put in 4 oz of Lubguard and drive for 500 miles to see if that fixed the problem... if not it's a clutch pack replace next according to the bulletin.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 20,030
Likes: 289
From: Wylie TX --> Less is More, except under the hood !
Differential fluid needs changing maybe ? Your clutch packs in the diff are maybe not slipping like they should ?
Maybe change out your Diff Fluid....
I wrote a procedure. Easy as Pie !
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0aae8/webpage.html
scroll down to bottom....
C5 Rear Differential Fluid change:
Toque
Maybe change out your Diff Fluid....
I wrote a procedure. Easy as Pie !
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0aae8/webpage.html
scroll down to bottom....
C5 Rear Differential Fluid change:
Toque
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
As I said in my original post... that has all been done... I having the clutch pack replaced... I purchased an extended warranty and this should be covered... thanks for the input and I will look at your info...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 7
From: Redding CA
It is the front wheels hopping, it's the differnce in wheel direction when the tires are turned to full lock. It's normal and doesn't have anything to do with the differential.
The front steering geometry works perfectly in the normal steering range. When you get to high steer angles the geometry goes off so you get the hopping at low speeds and full lock.
The front steering geometry works perfectly in the normal steering range. When you get to high steer angles the geometry goes off so you get the hopping at low speeds and full lock.
I've got the same noise when turning at full lock and just want to be sure that one of my front wheel bearings isn't about to let go..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 89
From: Indy IN
My car has done it from day one...
I back out and turn to get out of my garage and it hops once as I get out just short of 90 degrees. Then going forward it does it again just before I have to straighten out the wheel. My the car has always done it from when it was new.
If you go to a parking lot and back up or pull forward at different steering angles you will see that it's related to how much steering angle and how far you turn.
If you back a little bit away from full lock it goes away.
It's simply that one tire is turned more than the other, and since the speed is low and the tire can't just sip a bit, it gets dragged to the point where the sidewall deforms and then, at some point it hops. At that point it relaxes and the process starts again.
If you want to, have somebody stand outside the car and they will be able to see the tire hop when it does it.
No big deal...
I back out and turn to get out of my garage and it hops once as I get out just short of 90 degrees. Then going forward it does it again just before I have to straighten out the wheel. My the car has always done it from when it was new.
If you go to a parking lot and back up or pull forward at different steering angles you will see that it's related to how much steering angle and how far you turn.
If you back a little bit away from full lock it goes away.
It's simply that one tire is turned more than the other, and since the speed is low and the tire can't just sip a bit, it gets dragged to the point where the sidewall deforms and then, at some point it hops. At that point it relaxes and the process starts again.
If you want to, have somebody stand outside the car and they will be able to see the tire hop when it does it.
No big deal...
Last edited by Solofast; Feb 4, 2011 at 03:59 PM.