2000 rear end "loose"
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
2000 rear end "loose"
Folks, I'm a C3 guy but I have a friend with a newly-purchased C5 with a wierd quirk. Under hard acceleration the rear end "shifts"; I've felt this in C3's when the rear suspension crossmember bushings are shot. He took a look underneath and found the following - suggestions?
I put the vette up on the jack and grabbed the rear wheels at 9 and 3 oclock and pulled on them side to side and got about a 1/4" of movement, this can't be good. I noticed the upper A arm bushings moving side to side allowing this, no doubt this is where my torque steer is coming from.
I put the vette up on the jack and grabbed the rear wheels at 9 and 3 oclock and pulled on them side to side and got about a 1/4" of movement, this can't be good. I noticed the upper A arm bushings moving side to side allowing this, no doubt this is where my torque steer is coming from.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,913
Likes: 1,868
From: Hot Springs AR
You shouldn't get any sideways movement in the rear suspension. Obviously something is loose/worn and needs to be replaced. Rod ends, control arm bushings, etc.
Have a good one,
Mike
Have a good one,
Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,686
Likes: 1,180
From: Raleigh
My Z06 had the same problem side to side play in the rear wheels. When you would accelerate it would pull one way and decel would shift the other. The car also seemed to wander...my fix was very simple. The rear outer tie rod ends were worn out. I replaced them and had the toe set and completely cured the problem. I would be willing to bet that is the issue.
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
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 511
Likes: 65
From: Vancouver BC
my car is also exhibiting the same symptoms (rear wheel moving left and right 1/4"). a month ago the dealership tried to tell me that this was normal. I finaly got them to have a look. they said all was fine, but the car ran absolutely great for a month (they obviously tightened soemthing). today i took it to an independant alignment shop and they reiterated the same comments here re: the bushings having play. my thought was tightening the axles as well. since i have 2yrs left on my warranty, would bushings be covered? should i take this to another shop which specializes in corvettes? i want to get this problem solved asap. any and all advice appreciated
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,312
Likes: 70
From: Clearwater FL
Rear movement
Greetings,
We have found the wheel bearings are a failure point as is the lower C-Arm Bushings. Toe rod ends or axle nuts can not be ruled out but we don't see them fail or cause this type of issue with regularity.
In road racing the bearings become a consumable part because of their wear. Most wheel bearings will show movement at 6 & 12 as well as at 3 & 9.
The C-Arm bushing generally will "walk out " of the C-Arm mainly in the front (from braking). The Factory bushing is only a 53 durometer where poly is generally around 90-95. With that said, a strong person can compress or move a wheel with factory bushing. For an obvious, look to see if the bushing has moved out of the c-arm...
With the age of your C5, bushings will change the personality of how your hot rod handles...
Hope this helps...
PL
We have found the wheel bearings are a failure point as is the lower C-Arm Bushings. Toe rod ends or axle nuts can not be ruled out but we don't see them fail or cause this type of issue with regularity.
In road racing the bearings become a consumable part because of their wear. Most wheel bearings will show movement at 6 & 12 as well as at 3 & 9.
The C-Arm bushing generally will "walk out " of the C-Arm mainly in the front (from braking). The Factory bushing is only a 53 durometer where poly is generally around 90-95. With that said, a strong person can compress or move a wheel with factory bushing. For an obvious, look to see if the bushing has moved out of the c-arm...
With the age of your C5, bushings will change the personality of how your hot rod handles...
Hope this helps...
PL
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 469
Likes: 1
From: Sugar Land Tx
Originally Posted by z06inVB
My Z06 had the same problem side to side play in the rear wheels. When you would accelerate it would pull one way and decel would shift the other. The car also seemed to wander...my fix was very simple. The rear outer tie rod ends were worn out. I replaced them and had the toe set and completely cured the problem. I would be willing to bet that is the issue.
Had mine replaced this past summer. problem solved
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,088
Likes: 2
From: tampa florida
since I have increased the hp my car fish tails under WOT but it did not before the mods, headers, vararam, no cats. Is this a traction issue or related to the posts above? BFG tires stock sizes. TIA 
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 511
Likes: 65
From: Vancouver BC
so, the shop that did the 2nd check found that all of the ball joints and tie rod ends in the entire carwere tight. I just checked most of the nuts and bolts holding the a arms and other suspension bits for tightnes. now heres a silly question..... would a misaligned / out of alignment z06 wander????
I plan to take my car to another shop to get another opinion before i start to grind the folks at the dealership to honor their warranty. again, and and all comments appreciated!
I plan to take my car to another shop to get another opinion before i start to grind the folks at the dealership to honor their warranty. again, and and all comments appreciated!
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 511
Likes: 65
From: Vancouver BC
in the end, I found that the driver side upper wishbone was coming off the car (i.e. I turned the nuts to take up slack between the frame and flange of bushing). 10,000KMs later I tightened up both upper a arms. I am going to keep my eye on the upper a arms......
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Durham NC
Just for future reference, the axle nuts need to be tight of course but they aren't the source of your problem. Remember there is a plunging joint on the other end of the halfshaft which permits considerable axial motion.
