Do bump steer kits really work?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,983
Likes: 6
From: Redondo Beach Ca
Do bump steer kits really work?
The one thing I hate about the vette is when it hits a bump and jars the car to the side. I know coilovers would fix the problem, but that's not in my budget right now. Do the bump steer kits work? Are any brands better than the other? Thanks for any help. Oh yeah, my car is lowered a tad on stock bolts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,290
Likes: 0
From: Willow Springs IL
Coilovers won't fix bumpsteer in themselves. A transverse leaf spring doesn't care what the other side is doing as the spring is tied in the middle to the car's crossmember. Each side acts "independently" of each other hence the name "independent suspension".
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
From: Mesa Arizona
When we first bought our car Z06 sways were one of the first mods. They really helped in keeping the car flat in the corners but made the car leap and hop sideways even more when hitting the Feeeway overpass expansion joints. I had the Baer anti-bumpsteer tie rod ends installed to try to eliminate the same issue. They seemed to help...a little.
What helped even more was when I added new Z06 springs and Bilstein sport shocks.
But the most noticable change in how the car acted on those high speed turns with expansion joints was to get rid of those stock GoodYear runflats. I think the extra super stiff sidewalls of the runflats installed on an already stiff performance suspension was a lot of the problem. I had Michlein Pilot Sports (non runflats) installed and made our car feel like new.
Back to the Baer antibump steer tie rod ends. They wore out in 6000 miles. I put the stock tie rod ends back on and had the car realligned again. I liked the way they (the Baers) felt but they aren't cheep and they wear out to fast. Forum members pointed out to me that there are better/stronger adjustable tie rod ends out there but they aren't cheep either. The stock one's work fine.
For me the new tires made the most difference in helping to keep the bumpsteer under control.
Bob
What helped even more was when I added new Z06 springs and Bilstein sport shocks.
But the most noticable change in how the car acted on those high speed turns with expansion joints was to get rid of those stock GoodYear runflats. I think the extra super stiff sidewalls of the runflats installed on an already stiff performance suspension was a lot of the problem. I had Michlein Pilot Sports (non runflats) installed and made our car feel like new.
Back to the Baer antibump steer tie rod ends. They wore out in 6000 miles. I put the stock tie rod ends back on and had the car realligned again. I liked the way they (the Baers) felt but they aren't cheep and they wear out to fast. Forum members pointed out to me that there are better/stronger adjustable tie rod ends out there but they aren't cheep either. The stock one's work fine.
For me the new tires made the most difference in helping to keep the bumpsteer under control.
Bob
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,983
Likes: 6
From: Redondo Beach Ca
Thanks. My car is an 04 with 20k miles. The ride is good on the car, it's just the bump steer. I have Pirelli P-Zeros with Z06 sways, but stock shocks. I hate to spend alot of money on the shocks only to find that didn't help either.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
From: Mesa Arizona
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,983
Likes: 6
From: Redondo Beach Ca
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
From: Mesa Arizona
You can always do what DBL001 suggested. Try just the shocks for a while and see what you think. If you feel it's still not what you would expect you can always upgrade to springs later. The springs are the most expensive, around $900. w/shipping for new ones.
Can you find someone with a Z that you might be able to ride with so you can get a feel for the ride and handling?
I really love the Z suspension under my car. No regrets at all. BUT please do a lot of research on this subject before you spend a lot of money and find that you don't care for the changes.
GM did a lot of testing on the Z06 to get it to be one of the best sports cars on the road. I'm sure they felt that their suspension for the Z is the best possible combination of components for a street/track sports car.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,983
Likes: 6
From: Redondo Beach Ca
Through experience with my car, adding one component(s) at a time, sways, then shocks, then springs and finally tires, I found that the suspension worked better as a complete package.
You can always do what DBL001 suggested. Try just the shocks for a while and see what you think. If you feel it's still not what you would expect you can always upgrade to springs later. The springs are the most expensive, around $900. w/shipping for new ones.
Can you find someone with a Z that you might be able to ride with so you can get a feel for the ride and handling?
I really love the Z suspension under my car. No regrets at all. BUT please do a lot of research on this subject before you spend a lot of money and find that you don't care for the changes.
GM did a lot of testing on the Z06 to get it to be one of the best sports cars on the road. I'm sure they felt that their suspension for the Z is the best possible combination of components for a street/track sports car.
You can always do what DBL001 suggested. Try just the shocks for a while and see what you think. If you feel it's still not what you would expect you can always upgrade to springs later. The springs are the most expensive, around $900. w/shipping for new ones.
Can you find someone with a Z that you might be able to ride with so you can get a feel for the ride and handling?
I really love the Z suspension under my car. No regrets at all. BUT please do a lot of research on this subject before you spend a lot of money and find that you don't care for the changes.
GM did a lot of testing on the Z06 to get it to be one of the best sports cars on the road. I'm sure they felt that their suspension for the Z is the best possible combination of components for a street/track sports car.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 106
Likes: 19
From: Ontario, California
The purpose of anti-bump steer tie rods is to bring your tie rod in correct geometry with the spindle after you have lowered your car beyond that recommended by GM (stock bolts). If your car is near stock height or only lowered on the stock bolts, installing anti-bump steer tie rods could have a negative effect on your steering, probably inducing some bump steer. Think of the anti-bump steer tie rods as a way to lower the outer ends of tie rods so they return to a near parallel position (as designed by GM) after the steering rack has been lowered to the point that the outer ends of the tie rods would be angled upwards.
Rod
Rod
Last edited by HotrodZ06; Sep 12, 2007 at 03:20 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 47,647
Likes: 1
From: Queens, New York Life begins at 183 mph....
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
The purpose of anti-bump steer tie rods is to bring your tie rod in correct geometry with the spindle after you have lowered your car beyond that recommended by GM (stock bolts). If your car is near stock height or only lowered on the stock bolts, installing anti-bump steer tie rods could have a negative effect on your steering, probably inducing some bump steer. Think of the anti-bump steer tie rods as a way to lower the outer ends of tie rods so they return to a near parallel position (as designed by GM) after the steering rack has been lowered to the point that the outer ends of the tire rods would be angled upwards.
Rod
Rod
I'm still curious about what bcseitz said concerning his tie rods wearing out after 6000 miles. This is the first time I've heard of this. If this is true, then it really doesn't pay to do this mod as I drive about 10k miles a year. I'm wondering if he might have had a defective set. Anyone else hear of this problem with the tie rod kits??
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 9,615
Likes: 13
From: Burlington NC
The purpose of anti-bump steer tie rods is to bring your tie rod in correct geometry with the spindle after you have lowered your car beyond that recommended by GM (stock bolts). If your car is near stock height or only lowered on the stock bolts, installing anti-bump steer tie rods could have a negative effect on your steering, probably inducing some bump steer. Think of the anti-bump steer tie rods as a way to lower the outer ends of tie rods so they return to a near parallel position (as designed by GM) after the steering rack has been lowered to the point that the outer ends of the tire rods would be angled upwards.
Rod
Rod
Randy
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 9,615
Likes: 13
From: Burlington NC
Very well said.
I'm still curious about what bcseitz said concerning his tie rods wearing out after 6000 miles. This is the first time I've heard of this. If this is true, then it really doesn't pay to do this mod as I drive about 10k miles a year. I'm wondering if he might have had a defective set. Anyone else hear of this problem with the tie rod kits??
I'm still curious about what bcseitz said concerning his tie rods wearing out after 6000 miles. This is the first time I've heard of this. If this is true, then it really doesn't pay to do this mod as I drive about 10k miles a year. I'm wondering if he might have had a defective set. Anyone else hear of this problem with the tie rod kits??
Randy
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: NOVA VA
-Steve
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
From: Mesa Arizona
Very well said.
I'm still curious about what bcseitz said concerning his tie rods wearing out after 6000 miles. This is the first time I've heard of this. If this is true, then it really doesn't pay to do this mod as I drive about 10k miles a year. I'm wondering if he might have had a defective set. Anyone else hear of this problem with the tie rod kits??
I'm still curious about what bcseitz said concerning his tie rods wearing out after 6000 miles. This is the first time I've heard of this. If this is true, then it really doesn't pay to do this mod as I drive about 10k miles a year. I'm wondering if he might have had a defective set. Anyone else hear of this problem with the tie rod kits??
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...r+tie+rod+ends
