Maybe I'm just not used to the car. I drive a GMC 3500 diesel dually all day long. When I drive the Vette 2002 I feel like it is wandering, the slightest deviation in the road and it feels like the car reacts to it. I looked at the suspenion and steering linkage and the shocks and don't see anything obvious. Is it me ? Or is there something else I should look for?

 

Somewhat normal it is called trammeling. Because the steering is tighter and the wide tires it does not drive like a boat but reacts to road variations. One thing that some people do is get the alignment done with 1 degree of toe in it helps a little. When I had my alignment done the guy set it to the inner limits but still in the green range on his Hunter. It did help quite a bit but I still get it from some roads.

 

In addition:

Hows your tires?
Especially the fronts that were worn smooth on the inside edge
Mine were pretty bad and when I replaced them this trammeling was greatly reduced...

 

Well I know its been awhile since I posted this question but.. I took your advise and got the alignment done and when I explained the way the car was handling to the guy at the shop that does our alignments, he knew just what I was talking about. He set the toe on all four wheels in to the limit and tweeked the caster and camber to lessen this tammeling effect. And I gotta say what a difference!!! 100% better!! The car will track down the road without any deviation at all!! I can't believe the alignment could effect it that much!! If anyone lives near Orange City Florida and want to know the name of the shop that set me up , just let me know..
Thanks for steering me toward the alignment issue..
Don

 

DON

THANK YOU for up-DATING your post with the cause and solution of the problem. You would be AMAZED at how many posters never do this and the end result and solution to the problem are never known.

THANKS AGAIN!!!!



Bill

 

Bill, Hope my experience with this problem helps others. I gotta admit I should have got the alignment done a long time ago. I was just putting up with the tammeling, and hating the way the car drove... Main reason for putting it off was finding a shop I trusted..
Don

 

I have been looking at an alignment also.

What values did they set the Camber to? I was reading that if it was set to Zero it would have the best tire wear, and if it was set to the limit or the Z06 spec (more inboard at the top) there would be more tire wear on the inboard edges, but might be better handling.

If you can post the values for Toe, Camber, and Caster it would help to see what worked.

Thanks.

 

how much does an alingment cost on these cars im new just bought mine and i think i'm having the same problem

 

Just an FYI the effect is called tram-lining not trammeling. Like when the wheels follow tracks embedded in the streets for trams & light rail systems? They're all terms that have been coined over the years no biggie.

 

My was set as follows, left then right listed
F Caster 6.6*, 6.9*
F Camber -0.4*
F toe 0.1*, 0.1* - this is toe in
R camber -0.6*, -0.3*
R toe -0.1*, -0.1* - this is toe out

$100 at the GM dealer which came recommended for performace cars.

The rear camber really should be equal. Probably got a little lazy and didn't set it. Get the camber and toe set equal both sides front and rear. Forget the "within spec" crap if anyone tries to pull that. More camber will equal better cornering with more inner wear so what you want depends on where and how you drive. I do mostly highway driving so I'd very fine with trading the small cornering benefit for longer tire life.

I believe the idea behind the rear toe-out is that under power the wheels tend to toe themselves back in a bit. No idea if it's true or not but it's working fine that way for me. The car drives straight down the road and the tire wear has been very good. I've got over 40k miles on the rear PS2's and they're just hitting the wear bars on the inside edge but still above them on the outside edge worn evenly across the tread face. They are due for replacement very soon. To soon to know the final wear on the fronts but they are looking very good so far.

 

Toe-out in the rear will make the car oversteer.
I'd run ZERO for the street.
I don't know anyone who toes-out the rear except for slow speed autocrossers.

 

I guess that GM is wrong, then, because that's what THEY specify.....

 

Wouldn't be the first time.
I run zero

 

Before
Front camber left -0.7 right -0.1
front caster left +7.5 right +7.4
front toe left 1/64" in right 3/32" out for a total of 7/64" in

rear camber left -0.6 right -0.0
rear toe left 3/32" out right 1/4" out

After
Front camber left -0.4 right -0.4
front caster left +7.9 right +8.2
front toe left 1/16" in right 1/16" in for a total of 1/8" in

rear camber left -0.4 right -0.4
rear toe left 1/32" in right 1/32" in

These are the readings off the print out the shop gave me.. He said he put the right caster high for the large crown in the roads here in Florida. And I had him road force balance the tires.. Which is a balance I would highly recommend for any car.. Had him do it on my 06 HHR and now on the Vette, both ride smooth as silk..
Hope this is useful..
Don

 

Thanks for the before/after readings.

I am trying to learn what issues people have had with different settings, and what they did to correct them.

I was also curious if you saw any inside tire wear on the left front tire with that much camber in the before settings.

 

http://www.vbandp.com/index.php?opti...man&Itemid=170
Click on alignment and you will find the best answers for your needs.

 

No, oddly enough the tires are wearing pretty good. They were brand new Goodyear run flats on it when I bought the car. The rears are Nitto 555 , not the drag radial. Which were brand new also. I have only put 11,000 miles on it in the two years I've had it.

 

Looks like those are for the front end only

 

Keep reading.....