'02 Vette wagging it's tail
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: South River NJ
'02 Vette wagging it's tail
So, trying to determine what is happening here. As we roll down the highway, the faster we go, the more the rear wanders side to side. Both my wife and I noticed the same thing. It isn't the roadway, any roads cause this problem. If we press and hold-down the Active Handling button and put it in Competitive Mode, the problem seems very diminished.
Now, if we have the steering wheel turned the slightest bit, either to the left or right, the problem goes-away. This is why I don't think it is an alignment issue.
If we hold the steering wheel dead-center you will fell the rear of the car go left-right-left-right........ Makes you feel like there is a strong wind or tractor trailers passing by you!
Has to be something in the active handling and it must be engaging the rear brakes or something.
This car has the F55 option, though we feel no difference in any of the selected modes. Also seems to ride rougher than any other C5 I have been in or driven. None of them did this wandering act either.
What should I look for?
Now, if we have the steering wheel turned the slightest bit, either to the left or right, the problem goes-away. This is why I don't think it is an alignment issue.
If we hold the steering wheel dead-center you will fell the rear of the car go left-right-left-right........ Makes you feel like there is a strong wind or tractor trailers passing by you!
Has to be something in the active handling and it must be engaging the rear brakes or something.
This car has the F55 option, though we feel no difference in any of the selected modes. Also seems to ride rougher than any other C5 I have been in or driven. None of them did this wandering act either.
What should I look for?
Pro
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 568
Likes: 1
From: Fresno California
When was the last time you had a 4 wheel alignment? What kind of tires are on your car? How old are they and how many miles are on them? It would make since that turning the A.H off makes it less noticeable because it is no longer trying to compensate. If you don't do your own work, I suggest that you take it to a front end shop that has a good rep for Corvettes and get a complete inspection and alignment. F55 is known to be stiff but if you don't feel any difference then you should probably start by pulling the codes.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 940
Likes: 81
From: Lake Villa IL
Also check to make sure the shipping blocks for the F55 system where removed. Been plenty of them that where not and will make for a very stiff ride. The F55 option came out in 03 so you must have the F45 option. Not sure if they where shipped with the blocks.
Last edited by coia96vette; Jun 4, 2014 at 08:18 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: South River NJ
Tires are good (not run flats), air pressure is good, I need to check the glove box, guess it's called F45 in 2002. I will get the car up and look at bushings. Has 30K on the clock now. I do 99% of my own work, no problems there. I plan on lowering the front 1/2 inch and the rear 1", after that I will get it aligned. I will look and see if there are any codes set.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: South River NJ
Finally got time to look at it. The tie rods are perfect. Decided to lower the rear of the car while I was under there. Guess-what, the problem is now gone. Was probably just an alignment issue which was resolved when I lowered it an inch. Since we put very few miles on the car I won't bother to check the alignment for awhile. The tires will dry-rot before we actually wear them out.........
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 7
From: South Florida
Tires are good (not run flats), air pressure is good, I need to check the glove box, guess it's called F45 in 2002. I will get the car up and look at bushings. Has 30K on the clock now. I do 99% of my own work, no problems there. I plan on lowering the front 1/2 inch and the rear 1", after that I will get it aligned. I will look and see if there are any codes set.
Somewhere in the process it is gone. I do need A-arm bushings (Some of them) and have yet to fix. 600 miles on the new set up, and had almost no sway (like 2 miles worth in one section of road). Some may be attributable to roads, but not totally sure.
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Its your tires
I had that problem with a set of non rf doughboy tires. I noticed that under any acceleration the car would get loose... The guy at the tire shop looked at it and said "the tires were warping under power". Put a set of runflats on and it went away...
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 7
From: South Florida