Alright everyone, here is little question/concern that has been bothering me for the past year. Last summer I had my '01 Z06's LS6 pulled and replaced by a 418, one thing I have noticed since the engine swap is that the steering has greatly deteriorated. I've checked tire pressures, fluid levels, and areas for wear but cant find anything. Any thoughts on what it could be? Pretty much anything beyond a 45* turn and I start getting a ...i dont know .. "friction feeling"or like something is rubbing. it's definitely not smooth at all and it definitely was noticed when I got the car back. I probably should have said something then, but with me moving houses and then going off to military training for 6 months, I've already crossed that year mark. It's almost to the point it's not fun to drive anymore. Also, thoughts on what I should use when I replace the sway bars (have been thinking of doing it regardless) Johnny O'Connell, LG, PFADT.. she's just a weekend back roads carving car with an autocross probably going to happen a few times a year.
Thanks for all the input,
Nate

 

Did you do anything else with the motor swap? Lower, etc?
Is the 418 an aluminum block?

 

Nothing else, although she will get lowered here shortly, just an inch. and yes, all aluminum block

 

First thing I would check would be the bolt that connects the steering knuckle to the ps head. Even thought the bolt is tight, the knuckle end must be seated in the collar flush. If you don't pay attention when you tighten it, it will come unseated just a little. Good luck with your search.

 

Doesn't sound like the steering rack to steering shaft (or whatever you wanna call it that connects to the steering wheel) bolt. Doesn't even sound like the two big steering rack bolts.

Either one of those would make the steering feel vague. But not hard. Sounds like the power steering hoses weren't routed correctly around the steering shaft. So when you turn the wheel they bind up on the hoses.

Have somebody sit in the car and pop the hood and watch the steering shaft right at the rack. See if its hitting anything while it turns. make them turn it each way full lock a few times.

 

Here is what I would do!

With the car on the pavement, have an assistant start the engine and move the steering wheel SLIGHT LEFT & SLIGHT RIGHT.. While they are moving the steering wheel, you need to examine ALL parts of the steering gear & front suspension and look for any lost motion (something that is loose or moves as a result of the not being properly installed or missing parts.

Some of those things are:

1. Rack Assembly. There is a bushing on the passengers side that MUST be properly installed. Some people replace it with a poly bushing for a better feel.

2. Steering Wheel Shaft coupler to the Rack input shaft coupler. Its attached with a bolt and it MUST be properly torqued tight.

3. Steering rack tie rod to each front wheel. Look for excessive play

4. Front K Member. Is it tight??

5. ALIGNMENT>>> If you had the front K member out or loosened, it could have effected the alignment. Look at the alignment eccentrics on the control arms. See if any are way out of alignment as compared to the others.

6. Don't leave out the rear end. If there is something loose/worn out of alignment back there It can and will cause weird handling issues.


If I were a betting man, I would lay money on the rack being loose (missing or damaged bushing) or the connector at the steering shaft being loose/improperly tightened.

Bill

 

2 and 3 were my first thoughts. David Farmer had the set screw/bolt that holds the steering wheel shaft connected to the steering rack back out and come apart on track. After that he put some force behind it.

Doug Rippie sells Delrin and solid bushings for the rack. I would replace it with at least poly should you ever pull it out.

The Autocross section used to have a link to torque specs for everything suspension. If you can't find it, I can try digging it up.

 

Doesn't the power steering rack on the C5 have a wire for an assist of some sort? If so, did you knock the wire off or cut it somewhere?

 

That wire is the MAGNASTEER Varraiable Effort Steering and if it fails, will only make low speed steering effort a little bit more stiff.

BC

 

Thanks for all the responses guys!!! Ill have to do it over the weekend when my dad will be able to help me. So apart from it being something lose or worn out bushings, any recommendations on what sway bars to start looking at? Or aftermarket shocks?

 

I LOVE YOUR AVATAR!! TRUE!

Well,,,, Its difficult to make recommendation. We need to know what you intend on using the car for and how/why you feel you need to IMPROVE the handling.

My 02 ZO6 lost a LOT of its high speed agility. When I took high speed highway entrance sweeping turns, the car would step out side ways if anything unsettled the suspension. BOY What a butt pucker moment!

I had the OEM ZO6 stock suspension with 45,000 miles on the clock. Started to notice the soggy handling at around 35,000 miles. Just adding C6 ZO6 Shocks completely solved that issue! 100% drop in replacement at around $350 for all four.

I'm happy with it with the shock improvement and I know its limits. I have a lot wider rear tires so, I could add C6 zo6 sway bars for a more flatter handling car. I have the bars and may try them.

I do plan on adding poly bushing in the A rams and sway bars.

 

A 4 wheel laser wheel alignment and C6 Z06 shocks made mine drive like a track car or maybe a slot car. Both were well worth the money.

 

I went with Eibach swaybar kit (red swaybars with poly bushings) and recently installed Koni Sport shocks. Absolutely amazing handling. The Koni shocks are definitely more expensive but worth every penny. I cannot believe how much better they are than the Bilsteins I used to have. The infamous "floaty feeling" at high speed is completely gone with Konis. The faster I go, the better it sticks and I also find the steering response has improved. And as an added bonus, they're adjustable.

 

Thanks Bill!!! I made it myself, so if you ever want to use it, have at it!!
Paul/Cybermind, I think a set of new shocks will be added to the parts list now. I always thought Bilsteins were pretty highly rated, not so much?

 

Bilstein shocks are probably the best shocks you can get "at that price range". They are excellent shocks.

The Koni Sports cost about 3 times the price of the Bilsteins. Are they worth the money? Oh yes!!!

It all depends what you're willing to spend and what you plan to do with the car.

 

Planning to take it to an autocross event (JUST found out there is one about 2 hours away from here) a few times a year. Other than that, really just spirited weekend driving on the back roads, nothing serious.

 

I wonder if your steering shaft is up against the headers?

 

I too added 2013 C6 Z06 shocks as well as the Z06 sway bars. The handling is phenomenal now. I also went with 1" wider rims front and rear.

 

Good thought!

 

First of all, I want to say thank you for everyone's input!! Definitely helped a TON! After about an hour of checking bolts, tie rods, bushings.. we finally jacked up the front just to see if I could feel any difference when there wasnt any weight on the front end. Nothing. Smooth as glass. So then we decided to start her up and see if maybe there was something wrong with the pump. Nothing. Still perfect. Thank God I have a dad who is a bigger petrolhead than I. He almost started laughing when he first caught it..

Here is what we were looking at.


Then this..


Then this...


lionelhutz called it. Turns out, my shaft has a slight bend in it. Points slightly to the left hahaha. But seriously, I would say there is probably a 4mm "bow" in the shaft that is noticed when going from full right turn to full left. Good news, its not affecting anything horribly, at least I now know it's not as mechanically dangerous as it feels. I think Ill be able to make it through the rest of the summer and then this winter do a full suspension swap (bushings, sway bars, shocks). At the same time I'm going to drop that driver side header and put a dimple in it. Thoughts? Also, there is a set of C6Z06 shocks in the parts section for $150, decent deal?
Thanks again everyone
Nate