2001 Z06 : improve turning radius
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2,663
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From: Orange County, CA
2001 Z06 : improve turning radius
One of my least favorite aspects of my 2001 Z06 is it's turning radius. Looks like the turning circle is 42.3 feet vs 40.2 for later years of the Z06. Doesn't seem like a huge amount but that 5% improvement could easily be the difference between whether or not you need to go into reverse to complete a turn. And I often have to use reverse to complete turns in my 2001.
Anyways, any ideas what needs to be changed out? Steering rack? I've got an upcoming harmonic balancer job, so it seems changing out the steering rack could be a "while I'm in there" task.
Anyways, any ideas what needs to be changed out? Steering rack? I've got an upcoming harmonic balancer job, so it seems changing out the steering rack could be a "while I'm in there" task.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I would first figure out what the HARD STOPS are on the C5. Are there stops on the wheel spindle or are there stops inside the cylinder?
Then look at the clearances between the tire and frame /body at full left and full right before you make any Hard contact.
That will tell you if you have any lee way to make improvements. My Jeep wrangler had a post on the spindle that could be,,, if you desired,, "CUT DOWN" to gain some extra LEFT/RIGHT extreme wheel movement.
Never really looked into the C5 hard stops. Let us know what you find.
BC
Then look at the clearances between the tire and frame /body at full left and full right before you make any Hard contact.
That will tell you if you have any lee way to make improvements. My Jeep wrangler had a post on the spindle that could be,,, if you desired,, "CUT DOWN" to gain some extra LEFT/RIGHT extreme wheel movement.
Never really looked into the C5 hard stops. Let us know what you find.
BC
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Jun 21, 2019 at 12:22 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 1,389
From: Orange County, CA
I would first figure out what the HARD STOPS are on the C5. Are there stops on the wheel spindle or are there stops inside the cylinder?
Then look at the clearances between the tire and frame /body at full left and full right before you make any Hard contact.
That will tell you if you have any lee way to make improvements. My Jeep wrangler had a post on the spindle that could be,,, if you desired,, "CUT DOWN" to gain some extra LEFT/RIGHT extreme wheel movement.
Never really looked into the C5 hard stops. Let us know what you find.
BC
Then look at the clearances between the tire and frame /body at full left and full right before you make any Hard contact.
That will tell you if you have any lee way to make improvements. My Jeep wrangler had a post on the spindle that could be,,, if you desired,, "CUT DOWN" to gain some extra LEFT/RIGHT extreme wheel movement.
Never really looked into the C5 hard stops. Let us know what you find.
BC
To my knowledge none of these changed between 2001 Z06 and later C5Z:
- wheel size/offset & tire size
- fenders & fenderwell
- spindles
To your point about where the steering stops are, I would guess they're not in the knuckles (I'm assuming the knuckles didn't change). But then I suppose that means the stops are in the steering rack?
Also, anecdotally while speaking of Jeeps: my wife's 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee recently experienced a changed right-hand turning radius; it randomly started worsening and continue to do so over the span of a week until we had her stop driving the car! Left-hand turns were fine and normal, but right-hand turns she would have to perform a multi-point turn just to get around a shopping center.
Turns out that Jeep's steering stops were in the "steering gear box" (similar concept to our steering racks). I replaced the steering gear box and her right-hand turns are as good as ever.
Point being, I'd expect the steering stops for our C5s are in the rack.
Last edited by MetalMan2; Jun 26, 2019 at 02:16 PM.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 331
Likes: 74
From: Florida
I've looked into this personally and found that you can use aftermarket spindles, but a lot of modification needs to be done to the wheel wells. These are the drift angle spindles and are used by such people. The reason we have crappy turning radii is because of the enormously wide sizes that can go on our stock cars. If you induce any more angle, they start rubbing heavily into the wheel well plastics.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2018
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From: Orange County, CA
I've looked into this personally and found that you can use aftermarket spindles, but a lot of modification needs to be done to the wheel wells. These are the drift angle spindles and are used by such people. The reason we have crappy turning radii is because of the enormously wide sizes that can go on our stock cars. If you induce any more angle, they start rubbing heavily into the wheel well plastics.
Pro
Joined: May 2013
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From: MN
C7 spindles have shorter steering arms and may decrease turning radius. I have a set here that I will get around to playing with sometime.
As 02torchred mentioned, there are also drift spindles/arms that will allow crazy steering angle, but will throw your steering geometry way off.
As 02torchred mentioned, there are also drift spindles/arms that will allow crazy steering angle, but will throw your steering geometry way off.
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 331
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From: Florida
If we reduced it by even 5ft, you would have the stock tires (not to mention aftermarket) rubbing hard into the plastic wheel wells.
Last edited by 02torchred; Jun 28, 2019 at 04:08 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2,663
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From: Orange County, CA
C7 spindles have shorter steering arms and may decrease turning radius. I have a set here that I will get around to playing with sometime.
As 02torchred mentioned, there are also drift spindles/arms that will allow crazy steering angle, but will throw your steering geometry way off.
As 02torchred mentioned, there are also drift spindles/arms that will allow crazy steering angle, but will throw your steering geometry way off.
Yes it is the case for all C5 and C6 models. If the later C5s got only 2ft tighter in an already-very wide circle pattern, it shows how little room they have for movement even with stock tire sizes.
If we reduced it by even 5ft, you would have the stock tires (not to mention aftermarket) rubbing hard into the plastic wheel wells.
If we reduced it by even 5ft, you would have the stock tires (not to mention aftermarket) rubbing hard into the plastic wheel wells.
My question being, can the 2001 Z06 achieve the same steering angle/turning radius as 02-04 Z06 without rubbing? I'd LOVE to have a 2ft tighter turning circle, that's all I want. I don't need the potential increase resulting from C7 or drift spindles.
Mostly I'm curious to know if there are 02-04 Z06 part(s) I can bolt on to my 2001 and achieve the 02-04 turning radius. i.e. swap out the steering rack.
Last edited by MetalMan2; Jul 1, 2019 at 01:34 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 1,389
From: Orange County, CA
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 1,389
From: Orange County, CA
Let's say I were interested in changing out the steering wheel and losing the airbag (I'm not), how would this improve the turning radius? Are you suggesting the steering stops are in the steering wheel?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,502
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From: California
The smaller wheel shortens rotation the diameter distance on which your turning the wheel. Leading to a sharper turning scenario. So the distance and time it take you to turn is much quicker leading to a faster turn. Less effort to. I’m simply saying that a smaller wheel is quick to turn than a larger wheel. The circumference isn’t the same at the wheel. Have you ever seen people with those smaller chain link wheels in the car ? they had put them there not only for looks! Hope it helps ya. Adding a 4 wheel steering just isn’t gonna happen to cut up turning radius. Nor is shorten you steering linkages. Your steering wheel is most likely is your only option to improve it at all. Like I was saying you will lose your air bag for sure. Unless you tape it up there or something
Last edited by Speedy007; Jul 11, 2019 at 11:59 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 187
From: California
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 1,389
From: Orange County, CA
The smaller wheel shortens rotation the diameter distance on which your turning the wheel. Leading to a sharper turning scenario. So the distance and time it take you to turn is much quicker leading to a faster turn. Less effort to. I’m simply saying that a smaller wheel is quick to turn than a larger wheel. The circumference isn’t the same at the wheel. Have you ever seen people with those smaller chain link wheels in the car ? they had put them there not only for looks! Hope it helps ya. Adding a 4 wheel steering just isn’t gonna happen to cut up turning radius. Nor is shorten you steering linkages. Your steering wheel is most likely is your only option to improve it at all. Like I was saying you will lose your air bag for sure. Unless you tape it up there or something
Of course my Z06's e-brake is one of those that doesn't do anything! Planning to adjust it when I replace brakes soon though.
Last edited by MetalMan2; Jul 11, 2019 at 12:29 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 187
From: California
That sir is a different case. With the above mentioned spindles and the wheel fix should leave you doing donuts with ease. The point of it is the time, distance and efforts it take to reach full turn will be so much quicker than your stock. Your full turning distance wouldn’t change. on the distance and time it takes to get there changes drastically. Leading to a faster 1st initial turn. but ya for which the car would spin in a complete rotating circle would not change. Hope this helps narrow it down what can be done . Thinner tire could also pick up up a few small degrees. And some top speed.