C5 test ride concern
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 58
Likes: 3
C5 test ride concern
I went with a friend yesterday to look at a 99 convertible that's for sale locally, the car has 43k on the odometer and is nice and clean and ran well during the test drive, my friend is interested in buying it, however we noticed that when making sharp low speed turns such as when making a U-turn there is a rather pronounced noise made by the car. The salesman passed this off as the tires were rubbing because the owner had put bigger sized tires on it. A quick check revealed the tire sizes to be factory specification, so any idea what this sound could be? It sounds like its coming from the rear of the car to my ears, but I wouldn't swear to it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
Check rear axle cv's and splines at the wheels. If the grease dry's out (it happens in cars that sit a lot) it will cause them to "Chatter" going around turns etc. Good Luck!
Last edited by Vetteman Jack; Mar 17, 2019 at 03:54 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
Likes: 755
From: Greensboro Nc
Also check the physical age of the tires. When mine start getting older they start feeling almost like I have a welded diff in the back.
There are a number of things that could cause it, but I certainly wouldn’t trust that salesman anymore
There are a number of things that could cause it, but I certainly wouldn’t trust that salesman anymore
Pro
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 611
Likes: 415
From: Sarasota, Florida
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2019 C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Salesman could be partially right. Are there aftermarket wheels on the car? If so the offset could be the problem too.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
A common problem with rear spindles needing lubrication.. . AS you may know, salesmen will tell you almost anything. If its coming from the rear chances are it is not the tires or wheels. Your description of this specific problem is relatively common.
Its not a big deal
Bill aka ET
Its not a big deal
Bill aka ET
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,339
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
Appears from ET comments that this is not a big problem. Believe him but it should be for the salesman. I would use this "issue" in any price negotiations. Sounds to me at least a $5000 drop in price.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,685
Likes: 1,330
From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,339
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
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
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
If you like the car tell them to fix it first, get it in writing. SOmetimes they will sell you the car and print in the contract that fixing it is a term of sale.
Could be something minor...or not but you sure dont want to pay someone to drop that stuff if you dont have to . Not cheap.
Could be why someone turned it in.
Could be something minor...or not but you sure dont want to pay someone to drop that stuff if you dont have to . Not cheap.
Could be why someone turned it in.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 353
From: Little Rock Arkansas
That's actually what I was going to say. My guess without looking at anything whatsoever would be the plastic end links have broken on one side. It's pretty common considering how junk the stock sway end links are. When you put load on the broken side when turning you're hearing it clunk. The dealership hoisting it on the lift would easily allow this to be seen (hopefully they can lift the car properly without damaging the rockers and front fender tabs).
