Something felt weird
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,994
Likes: 386
From: Chandler AZ
Something felt weird
I'm not sure if I should post this, could be wrong, but last night I drove Corvette and made a right turn and just stepped on the car a tiny bit, and something felt weird, it felt like car's back end slid to the left, but I don't think I was stepping on it enough
Also lately I'm noticing I have to pull the steering wheel slightly to the left, and on certain roads the car just feels jerky as in it wants veer one direction or the other on uneven roads with soft dips in the road.
Maybe it's the tires?
Could it be shocks?
Going to double check the wheel lugs are torqued properly.
Original shocks, no codes, 90,000 miles, car is stock.
Also lately I'm noticing I have to pull the steering wheel slightly to the left, and on certain roads the car just feels jerky as in it wants veer one direction or the other on uneven roads with soft dips in the road.
Maybe it's the tires?
Could it be shocks?
Going to double check the wheel lugs are torqued properly.
Original shocks, no codes, 90,000 miles, car is stock.
Racer
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 371
Likes: 223
From: Charlotte, NC
How long has it been since the car has been aligned? Not sure about Vettes, but some cars can get REALLY squirrely when the rear alignment is off. I have a go-to tech who told me C5s are easily knocked out of alignment...i'd check that out if tires and shocks are ok.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,994
Likes: 386
From: Chandler AZ
Never, I tried when replacing tires in 2004 and shop told me they couldn't, car too low, or need something special on machine.
I've replaced tires again and didn't bother making any appointment that time.
So maybe that's it.
I've replaced tires again and didn't bother making any appointment that time.
So maybe that's it.
Racer
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 371
Likes: 223
From: Charlotte, NC
I got mine done at a Firestone. 100 bucks for a lifetimealignment. According to my guy, its a pretty straightforward car to align and any competent shop can handle it.
Also, the head alignment guy at my shop os a C5 owner.
Also, the head alignment guy at my shop os a C5 owner.
Racer
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 371
Likes: 223
From: Charlotte, NC
Wait...you've had the same tires on the car since '04? That might be the problem. Your tires might be shot. Tires should be changed every 6 years becsuse rubber ages.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
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From: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
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^ This
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,994
Likes: 386
From: Chandler AZ
I was wrong, the steering wheel is turning to the left slightly on it's own and I have turn it to the right slightly.
Was looking at date codes on the michellin zero pressure tires, one is 4th week of 2009, one is August 2009, both on passenger side, I can't seem to find the codes in the driver's sides.
The tread on the driver's front is what I think you call "feathered' on the outer edge, didn't notice on any other day tires, so I'm due for new tires then if 6 years is the cutoff, what I get for parking the car over 4 years in garage from 2013-2017, was driving a old beater grand am, anyways that car is gone and the C5 has been my daily driver since September 2017.
On a side note I'm wanting to put my 1965 C10 on the road to not have to drive the C5 every time, and as a backup vehicle just in case say the clutch or something goes out on C5, I bought brand new tires for the 1965 C10 summer 2002, Goodyear with white letters, probably only put 3000 miles on them. 17 years old!
So now I'm thinking buy cheaper tires, for the C5 and 1965 C10, and if they wear out faster, no problem since after 6 years they are not safe.
Was looking at date codes on the michellin zero pressure tires, one is 4th week of 2009, one is August 2009, both on passenger side, I can't seem to find the codes in the driver's sides.
The tread on the driver's front is what I think you call "feathered' on the outer edge, didn't notice on any other day tires, so I'm due for new tires then if 6 years is the cutoff, what I get for parking the car over 4 years in garage from 2013-2017, was driving a old beater grand am, anyways that car is gone and the C5 has been my daily driver since September 2017.
On a side note I'm wanting to put my 1965 C10 on the road to not have to drive the C5 every time, and as a backup vehicle just in case say the clutch or something goes out on C5, I bought brand new tires for the 1965 C10 summer 2002, Goodyear with white letters, probably only put 3000 miles on them. 17 years old!
So now I'm thinking buy cheaper tires, for the C5 and 1965 C10, and if they wear out faster, no problem since after 6 years they are not safe.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
Earlier this year, GFs (non-GM) car had a strange floating feeling and vibration from the rear.
Driving it, felt like the back end was floating/bouncing side to side in an elliptical "shape".
Had already replaced the shocks, so I knew that wasn't it.
Consulted a (vehicle brand) service writer I know, was told the likely culprit was belt separation in a tire.and thats what casued that floating feeling.
Was told the casue was the tire was so old, rubber dried out, the belts were separating, and thats what casued that floating feeling.
Rears were made in 2008 and 2009.
Replaced the 2008 tire, problem went away for a while.
Floaty feeling came back about a month later, replaced the other side (2009),
no more issues.
Driving it, felt like the back end was floating/bouncing side to side in an elliptical "shape".
Had already replaced the shocks, so I knew that wasn't it.
Consulted a (vehicle brand) service writer I know, was told the likely culprit was belt separation in a tire.and thats what casued that floating feeling.
Was told the casue was the tire was so old, rubber dried out, the belts were separating, and thats what casued that floating feeling.
Rears were made in 2008 and 2009.
Replaced the 2008 tire, problem went away for a while.
Floaty feeling came back about a month later, replaced the other side (2009),
no more issues.
Administrator
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Get the alignment when you get tires.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,057
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
Earlier this year, GFs (non-GM) car had a strange floating feeling and vibration from the rear.
Driving it, felt like the back end was floating/bouncing side to side in an elliptical "shape".
Had already replaced the shocks, so I knew that wasn't it.
Consulted a (vehicle brand) service writer I know, was told the likely culprit was belt separation in a tire.and thats what casued that floating feeling.
Was told the casue was the tire was so old, rubber dried out, the belts were separating, and thats what casued that floating feeling.
Rears were made in 2008 and 2009.
Replaced the 2008 tire, problem went away for a while.
Floaty feeling came back about a month later, replaced the other side (2009),
no more issues.
Driving it, felt like the back end was floating/bouncing side to side in an elliptical "shape".
Had already replaced the shocks, so I knew that wasn't it.
Consulted a (vehicle brand) service writer I know, was told the likely culprit was belt separation in a tire.and thats what casued that floating feeling.
Was told the casue was the tire was so old, rubber dried out, the belts were separating, and thats what casued that floating feeling.
Rears were made in 2008 and 2009.
Replaced the 2008 tire, problem went away for a while.
Floaty feeling came back about a month later, replaced the other side (2009),
no more issues.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 284
From: Springfield MA
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12, '19, '21
Sway bar
Here's a thought. Check your rear sway bar and the end links. My 2001 did the same thing and it ended up being a broken sway bar and a broken end link.
Dave
Dave
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,793
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From: Leesburg Fl
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '14,'18
On new asphalt my car will break loose easily coming out of a turn at low speeds. I also notice the wheel will pull on old asphalt due to the ruts in the pavement made by vehicles-try to ride out of that area.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 353
From: Little Rock Arkansas
1) Get an alignment. The shop that told you it couldn't be done I'm guessing just didn't want to deal with it. If you're unsure as to whom to take it to ask your local club(s) who they go to.
2) At the time of alignment, you'll likely be told the condition of anything suspension -wise that is suspect. Most of it you can actually easily check, such as sway bar bushings which can cause what you have described, but on a rack it's much easier to see & check everything at once.
2) At the time of alignment, you'll likely be told the condition of anything suspension -wise that is suspect. Most of it you can actually easily check, such as sway bar bushings which can cause what you have described, but on a rack it's much easier to see & check everything at once.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 3,680
Likes: 1,040
^^^ Right on.
Quit screwing around... For both front and rear, install new end links, new bushings, and upgrade the diameter of the sway bars, then replace front and rear tires with new non-runflat Michelin and balance them properly... Test drive... Wow! What a difference! It's like when it was brand new!... Or... if further troubleshooting is needed, take two or more aspirin and THEN call for an alignment specific Corvette jobber.... They will advise you specifically if more is required to complete the fix. 👍
Quit screwing around... For both front and rear, install new end links, new bushings, and upgrade the diameter of the sway bars, then replace front and rear tires with new non-runflat Michelin and balance them properly... Test drive... Wow! What a difference! It's like when it was brand new!... Or... if further troubleshooting is needed, take two or more aspirin and THEN call for an alignment specific Corvette jobber.... They will advise you specifically if more is required to complete the fix. 👍