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Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"??

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Old Mar 29, 2004 | 09:08 PM
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Default Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"??

the car feels very unstable going around corners at anything over 50 mph and hitting a bump. To the point where I need to keep both hands on the wheel. I've raced other cars for years w/ decent suspensions and never noticed this. Is there ANYTHING I can do short of getting coil overs? This feels very unsafe to me
Thanks
dave
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Old Mar 29, 2004 | 09:14 PM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (TT_Vert)

Are you still running the stock runflats? That's the first thing I would change. :yesnod: :yesnod:
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Old Mar 29, 2004 | 09:19 PM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (TT_Vert)

Most people on this forum call that "wheel hop". Get ready, you're going to get bombarded with "Loose the runflats!". Try lowering the air pressure in your tires first, 30PSI cold is where most recommend, but lowering it a few pounds will help IMHO.
:cheers:
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Old Mar 29, 2004 | 09:28 PM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (markcz)

Actually, wheel hop is the violent shaking of the rear end during heavy accelation. What he is refering to is bumpstreet. run flats will help, and so will lowering you rpms, but you will sacrifice control. If it is totaly out of hand you may meed new shocks, try blistens or 04 ZO6 shocks
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Old Mar 29, 2004 | 09:37 PM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (Monster231)

the car has 20k miles on it so I dont know if the shocks would be shot yet. it handles great otherwise. I do have the runflats w/ about 32 psi HOT in them so ill lower the pressure some. I know what wheel hop is, and it is NOT this, its the entire car becoming unsettled in a corner. it isnt RPM related because i was not accelerating and I think i was in 5th gear at 55-60 when this happened. It's done it many times now, so it's somewhat bothersome.

Dave
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Old Mar 29, 2004 | 09:51 PM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (TT_Vert)

Just curious, do you have the FE1 suspension?
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Old Mar 29, 2004 | 09:52 PM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (TT_Vert)

I know what you are talking about. I hit a bump while going around a curve on the highway at about 60mph and went about 20 degrees sideways. Not good. I had runflats and Z51 shocks at the time. I since went with Z06 chromies in Z06 sizes but 18's up front and put in QA1 HAL adjustable shocks and the ride is now awsome and no more losing control in corners even with bumpy roads. The runflats are very stiff and don't flex with pavement irregularities. The nice thing about the adjustable shocks is I can dial in to what kind of driving I'm about to do. I usually have them set at 5 for street/highway driving. Then around 3 rear/4-5 front for drag and 6-8 all around for autocross/road course. The car rides like it is on rails now and feels like it is stuck to the road. The first thing I would do is get a more forgiving tire, then a more responsive shock. :)
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Old Mar 29, 2004 | 10:51 PM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (ArKay99)

Yes i have the FE1 base suspension. I cannot afford expensive shocks so maybe ill go w/ the 04 z06 shocks if they'll fix the problem
dave
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Old Mar 29, 2004 | 11:01 PM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (ArKay99)

I know what you are talking about. I hit a bump while going around a curve on the highway at about 60mph and went about 20 degrees sideways. Not good. I had runflats and Z51 shocks at the time. I since went with Z06 chromies in Z06 sizes but 18's up front and put in QA1 HAL adjustable shocks and the ride is now awsome and no more losing control in corners even with bumpy roads. The runflats are very stiff and don't flex with pavement irregularities. The nice thing about the adjustable shocks is I can dial in to what kind of driving I'm about to do. I usually have them set at 5 for street/highway driving. Then around 3 rear/4-5 front for drag and 6-8 all around for autocross/road course. The car rides like it is on rails now and feels like it is stuck to the road. The first thing I would do is get a more forgiving tire, then a more responsive shock. :)
:iagree:
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Old Mar 30, 2004 | 01:26 AM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (mark b)

check the rear toe setting.
it sounds toed out. :cheers:
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Old Mar 30, 2004 | 08:26 AM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (TT_Vert)

Yes i have the FE1 base suspension. I cannot afford expensive shocks so maybe ill go w/ the 04 z06 shocks if they'll fix the problem
dave
This will NOT fix the problem! Lose the runflats, mine does the same thing - it is several things that make this happen, but the biggest reduction in the problem comes when you lose those runflat tires - or at least go to a BETTER runflat.
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Old Mar 30, 2004 | 09:02 AM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (TT_Vert)

the car feels very unstable going around corners at anything over 50 mph and hitting a bump. To the point where I need to keep both hands on the wheel...
First of all, this should happen, if it's a big enough bump. I don't know that driving with one hand on the wheel on a bumpy road is a good idea, anyway.

If the bump is not that large, how many miles on the shocks and the tires? When's the last time an alignment was done?

All of those are factors. More than 30,000 miles on the shocks, or 12,000 miles on an alignment, I would look at those first. Replacing the run flats will also help.
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Old Mar 30, 2004 | 11:32 AM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (EHS)

Can't tell what year you have, but if earlier than 2002 you might replace those plastic end links with the later model versions; I did, and the oricinals were worn out. A pretty cheap fix.
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Old Mar 30, 2004 | 11:51 AM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (TT_Vert)

It is the runflats, the worst tire you can run on the C5.
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Old Mar 30, 2004 | 12:31 PM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (BHP)

Find a wholesome virgin :jester

Keith

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Old Mar 30, 2004 | 12:38 PM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (kromberg)

Find a wholesome virgin :jester

Keith
:banghead:
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Old Mar 30, 2004 | 04:56 PM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (pdd000)

The runflats were horrible, with lots of low speed bumpsteer, even with the Z-51 suspension.I can only imagine how bad it would be with the base suspension...
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Old Mar 30, 2004 | 05:12 PM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (lost)

Its the runflats.....its time for new tires :yesnod:


[Modified by pewter99, 5:12 PM 3/30/2004]
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Old Mar 30, 2004 | 05:31 PM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (pewter99)

the tires still have over 1/2 their tread left, you really think I should just dump em??

Dave
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Old Mar 30, 2004 | 05:34 PM
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Default Re: Ho can I prevent "crabwalk"?? (TT_Vert)

the tires still have over 1/2 their tread left, you really think I should just dump em??

Dave
how are the rears??? my fronts outlasted the rears easily...you really need to check the tread depth in the center....honestly after halfway thru those tires are on the way out..I know it sucks for what they cost.... :cuss
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