Wandering at 50
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 799
Likes: 160
From: Landenberg PA
Wandering at 50
No this is not about a mid life crisis 
.
My '00 steering feels like it is not planted ( slight wandering) at about 50 mph. All seems OK up to 50 and above. I have Michelin RFT's, previous owner replaced in 2009, lots of tread left. I did replace the end links last summer and had an alignment. My mechanic felt is also but was not sure what would cause such an issue. Have any of you experienced anything like this, if so what did you do to resolve. Thanks.
. My '00 steering feels like it is not planted ( slight wandering) at about 50 mph. All seems OK up to 50 and above. I have Michelin RFT's, previous owner replaced in 2009, lots of tread left. I did replace the end links last summer and had an alignment. My mechanic felt is also but was not sure what would cause such an issue. Have any of you experienced anything like this, if so what did you do to resolve. Thanks.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Its very DIFFICULT to POINT THE FINGER at one thing and SAY. "THIS IS YOUR ISSUE"Your cars steering system consist of a BUNCH of parts (including all the stuff in the rear) that allows the alignment to remain correct.
Here is what I do to se what's failing when I have handling issues.
Drive the front wheels up on ramps and chock the rear wheels. Have someone start the engine and move the steering wheel slight LEFT & RIGHT. You observe the front Arm bushings, steering rack mount bolts and rubber bushings, rack end links steering shaft to rack shaft connection ect... and look very carefully for any LOST MOTION.
In the rear, pry, poke components and push on the rear of the car and look for loose, worn and or excessively worn components.
I have even applied a line lock and torqued the drivetrain to see if there was any deflection in the A Arm bushings and ball joints.
Some where you have something that is allowing the alignment to change when the rolling resistance of the wheels are at a specific drag point (what ever the force is starting at 50 mph.)
I agree with replacing the shocks. If they are OEM, there SHOT. A great low cost improvement if you are close to stock height is GM C6 ZO6 shocks. You will be impressed at the improved high speed maneuvering capability you will get!
Bill
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Forgot to mention ball joints and wheel hubs. Jack one wheel off the ground and use a lever to pry the bottom of the wheel UP. See if there is any slop in the lower ball joint.
The wheel beraings also need to be checked. When the wheel is off the ground, grab the front wheel at the 12:00 and 6:00 position and push/pull in and out. There should be little or NO slop in the wheel hub bearings. If there is REPLACE them.
Again, if all that checks out, , have the alignment rechecked and the specification need to be right on spec. All that left would be tires.
The wheel beraings also need to be checked. When the wheel is off the ground, grab the front wheel at the 12:00 and 6:00 position and push/pull in and out. There should be little or NO slop in the wheel hub bearings. If there is REPLACE them.
Again, if all that checks out, , have the alignment rechecked and the specification need to be right on spec. All that left would be tires.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: South River NJ
Our 2002 was "twitchy" above 50mph, had to keep steering it all the time, very annoying. Once I lowered the rear end 1/2" all that went-away. So in our case, probably an alignment issue. Leaving it alone for now since it is "behaving".
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 799
Likes: 160
From: Landenberg PA
Latest from my mechanic, appears the date code on the tires are 2008 and they are showing signs of cracking between the threads. Looks like I will start with new tires and take it from there.
Since they have the car up on a ramp anyway I will ask them to do a check out of the suspension system as suggested.
Thanks everyone, I will respond back when I have something new to report.
Since they have the car up on a ramp anyway I will ask them to do a check out of the suspension system as suggested.
Thanks everyone, I will respond back when I have something new to report.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 536
Likes: 2
From: Brisbane Queensland
Forgot to mention ball joints and wheel hubs. Jack one wheel off the ground and use a lever to pry the bottom of the wheel UP. See if there is any slop in the lower ball joint.
The wheel beraings also need to be checked. When the wheel is off the ground, grab the front wheel at the 12:00 and 6:00 position and push/pull in and out. There should be little or NO slop in the wheel hub bearings. If there is REPLACE them.
Again, if all that checks out, , have the alignment rechecked and the specification need to be right on spec. All that left would be tires.
The wheel beraings also need to be checked. When the wheel is off the ground, grab the front wheel at the 12:00 and 6:00 position and push/pull in and out. There should be little or NO slop in the wheel hub bearings. If there is REPLACE them.
Again, if all that checks out, , have the alignment rechecked and the specification need to be right on spec. All that left would be tires.
I had the same issue on one of my vehicles (not the Vette). It turned out to be the wheel bearing on the right rear wheel. Funny thing was, it never made that high pitched sound usually associated with a bearing gone bad.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 669
Likes: 13
I had a similar issue a few months after buying my car and thought it was a bad wheel bearing or ball joint. Turned out to be a loose upper control arm bolt in the RR 
Nut and bolt everything on the suspension if tires don't fix it.
Nut and bolt everything on the suspension if tires don't fix it.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 799
Likes: 160
From: Landenberg PA
Update
Pulled the trigger on Hankook Evo's and got an alignment, rides much better. No more wondering ... Thanks for the advice all. Now if I can only solve my TPMS issues
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Might want to post up your TPMS issue and I'd be someone here can help you.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 799
Likes: 160
From: Landenberg PA
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...c-display.html
Lots of folks have responded, just don't have resolution yet. I will be installing the sensors from my old setup as a next step.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,868
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From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
What Curlee said....and others.
Mine "tramlined" for years and everyone said it was just something that wide tires do...so I accepted it.
Bad call.....
New tires and an alignment......no further issue. Also, there are different specs you can dictate for an alignment that will influence this driving behavior.
Good luck.....
Edit: I see it's been resolved....good news. I went for the Hankooks as well and so far, they are great.
Mine "tramlined" for years and everyone said it was just something that wide tires do...so I accepted it.
Bad call.....
New tires and an alignment......no further issue. Also, there are different specs you can dictate for an alignment that will influence this driving behavior.
Good luck.....
Edit: I see it's been resolved....good news. I went for the Hankooks as well and so far, they are great.