I had my front tires/wheels off the car this weekend to add some side add some of those side vent grills. While I had them off, I thought it'd be a good time to have them balanced. I figured I needed them balanced since I feel this somewhat faint vibration in the steering wheel above 90 mph...which I don't do often...but hey. So I have them balanced and then I notice the inside of one is cupped pretty bad. The other is not cupped so much as it looks like the inside edge has been run down a gravel road while the rest of the tire is smooth. The guy that balanced my tires said they weren't really out of balance that badly but it looks like I need an alignment. My questions are several. 1) Do these things need 4 wheel alignment? 2) Can I get by with just a front end alignment? 3) I'm thinking of changing from the stock tire/wheel setup to Z06, will I need to have it aligned again if I make that change? Thanks!

 

1) yes
2) no
3) if you are going the zo6 wheel/tire set up soon, just ahve it aligned after you get the new tires/wheels, and you can have the alignment set to a more agressive zo6 spec.

 

 

I agree.

 

The way GM has the front end set-up the inside tread will wear more than the outside but, the cupping sounds like you have a weaker shock that is allowing that side to bounce a little while going down the road----how long has it been sense you put shocks on it?

 

The more aggressive Z06 spec will cause the insides of the front tires to wear fast. Unless you race I would go with a milder setting. Do a search as this has been discussed quite a bit and the mild to aggressive settings are listed out there.

 

Never have put shocks on it....less than 40K miles. Think it's time? Dang expensive toy.....

 

The stock Goodyear tires always wear more on the inside edge - that is a fact of life.

When I switched to Michelins and went with the same alignment specs, perfectly even front tire wear. In fact, I will easily get 45K out of them !!

With Goodyear run flats, it is usually the tires not the car.

 

Checked with the tire shop today, alignment is only $59 for a 4 wheel alignment, thought it be twice or 3 times that. I'll give it a shot Friday. Since I've had the car, I've not been impressed with it's handling...seemed like it darted around alot...I was told it was the wide tires in the 'ruts' in the road. Maybe this will fix some of that. Wish me luck!

 

good luck!!!

 

Just the fronts right?

 

Make sure they check the tie rod ends.

 

I'll be there to watch...are these things known for wearing them (tie rod ends) out in less than 40K miles?

 

I had a bad one at 47k...

You can easily check this yourself with a jack. All it takes is one good curb bump. It matches your symptoms perfectly.

 

Depends on how you use the car. I have had 6 new tie rods installed on my car but big tires and high speed corners tend to abuse the tie rods and wheel bearings.

Bill

 

What causes my tires to wear on the outside of both fronts? From like the center to the outside

 

If you speak in generalities to the alignment shop like "I want a Z06 spec allignment", that "maybe" or "maybe not be" what you will end up with.

When doing a 4 wheel allignment (and I highly recommend doing one!) be very specific on what exactly you want. Ask them for the printout of the final adjustments so you know what you have.

You need to know what specs you want. Example: how much negative camber you want on each of the 4 corners, how much caster and toe.

Do a search on here and read advantages/disadvantages on various setups. It will be worth your while!

Oh, Very Important! Only go to a shop that is a recommended C5 allignment shop!

 

Well, I bought the car used so I can't speak to it's previous life other than what I was told and how it looks. Based on that it wasn't driven hard...and I haven't driven it hard. So we'll see tomorrow morning in the tie rod ends are bad or not. I haven't put tie rod ends on a car, or needed to - since my 68 Camaro when I was 18...and that was more years agon than I can remember.

 

My car handled just O.K. when I purchased it used about 4 years ago but the more miles i put on the tires the more it darted and pulled on certain roads (esp. in the city) and it would follow ruts like crazy. I replaced the tires last fall (with Nitto Invos - wider tires too) and all of the bad handling was gone BEFORE any alinement was done. I only had about 20K on NON runflats too. The fronts looked like they wore very even and were about 2/3 worn and the rears was were down to the treadwear indicators and also look fairly evenly worn.

Just thought I would share that - But have the tie-rods checked to be sure all is OK. Safety first.

I also changed my shocks (to Bilstein HD) at around 30K miles and I saw a major improvement in handling and ride quality on all roads at all speeds. I highly recommend replacing shocks at 40K miles. Also its a good time to replace sway-bars (plus bushings and endlinks) to c5z06 or c6z51 bars. Great mod!

 

Update - at the alignment shop, I watched as the tech set up the alignment machine, took his initial readings, scratched his head, went back around and checked all the sensor things mounted to the wheels, got under it with a measuring tape and a flashlight, scratched his head some more....uh oh I'm thinking. Sure enough he comes out and asks me if this is my car and has it ever been wrecked. Crap....bought it used a year ago, talked to both previous owners and car fax 'no wrecks' I'm told. He couldn't find any apparent damage but the alignment was way, way off. And...it was down 1/4 inch on one side. After I told him, as far as I know, it hadn't been wrecked the said he could adjust it, which he did. He said I probably had a spring, sprung causing the one side to droop...said if it drives out ok, don't worry about it. Handles much better now. Still darts a little around town in the 'ruts' but out on the road, I feel much more comfortable throwing it into the curves....doesn't feel like it's going to suprise me now.

So, not sure if measuring from frame to ground is common for an alignment, and 1/4 inch sounds like nothing, but should I worry about that and how could a spring have sprung with around 40k on it? He figures it's the front one due to the engine weight. That common and how hard/expenive to replace? Thanks again!