Erratic pulling to either side.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Shelby Twp MI
Erratic pulling to either side.
This is my first posting to the forum. My 1998 convertible (11,000 miles) periodically pulls to either side, while driving straight and level, as if a strong wind is pushing or as if I'm on a severely crowned road. (feels like autopilot is taking over). It also pulls hard right or left while braking gently, but is fine if braking hard. Again it's an erratic problem. Most of the time it's fine, and the car drives straight, hands off the wheel. Is this a common problem? Is this related to the famous warped rotor problem I hear about? If so why isn't it a more consistent problem? Tires are not worn. :confused:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 805
Likes: 0
From: Newport Coast, CA USA
Re: Erratic pulling to either side. (C5CPA)
Are you sure that your tires are not rutting into pavement grooves and tracking out of a straight line. With the wide tires on the C5, and particularly with the runflats, I noticed that the tires tend to track with irregularities in the pavement, making the car move around. Just a thought.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Shelby Twp MI
Re: Erratic pulling to either side. (THENAKEDi)
Thanks for response. I have been quietly living with this issue all summer, (bot the car last spring). Talked to a buddy today that drives WS6 Trans Am, about the closest American car to our Vettes and he suggested the same thing. I will be more conscious of the type pavement I'm on when it happens. I think you are on point as to the problem. :)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 889
Likes: 0
From: West Houston TX
Re: Erratic pulling to either side. (C5CPA)
Mine does the same. I test drove a 2001 Coupe last weekend and the ride was way better. It feels like my supension is loose. Maybe some new shocks or a sway bar might help. What do you guys think?????
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 36,453
Likes: 2
From: Overwhelmed as one would be, placed in my position.... DFW, TX
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: Erratic pulling to either side. (C5CPA)
I always thought it was because we have nice wide cars... One tire is in the little rut in the road but the other tire is too far out... So what happens is it wants to put both tires in a rut and it makes things erratic... I noticed the same thing in my friend's 1st Gen Rx-7; only his car is too narrow. He has the same problem.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 4
From: Saratoga Spgs, NY 12866 NY
Re: Erratic pulling to either side. (Umrswimr)
I have noticed a definate increase in this behavior in the last 5k miles. I now have about 24k on the car. I checked alingment, tire pressure, etc. to no avail. I believe it is related to the Goodyear runflats as they wear. I'll bet a tire change would almost eliminate the problem.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 38
From: Woodland Wa
Re: Erratic pulling to either side. (C5CPA)
This type of behavior is the reason GM began to install smaller width tires on the front back in 1993. I suspect its the nature of the beast, large front tires tend to follow ruts and waunder around some on uneven road surfaces. If you travel the same roads over and over I would bett you can notice the car pulling or not in the same places from day to day.
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Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Shelby Twp MI
Re: Erratic pulling to either side. (JMs99C5)
Thanks to everyone for their input. Glad to know I'm not the only one noticing this. A noteworthy follow up, based on observations: Our roads here in Metro Detroit are generally pretty lousy. But the pulling seems to only happen on asphalt roads, not concrete, even if the concrete is not really great. I suspect the comments about the run-flats may be valid, but "it ain't broke bad enough to fix it" in my case until I get closer to needing new tires for other reasons.
