High Speed Wobble
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Winter SPrings FL
High Speed Wobble
Hello all! Just bought my dream car, an 08 Jetstream Blue Vette on Friday. On Monday I took it right back due to a wobble that is noticable at 55 and gets almost undrivable at 90. Dealer balanced and roadforced the front 2 tires. This did nothing. THen took it back and they said the right front tire was bad and replaced it. Nothing. Wobble is the same. Any of you guys have any advice for me? I am horrrified I have made the worst decision of my life. Last time I had a wobble on a car I had to trade it in as they never figured it out. I am taking it back in tomorrow morning.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,153
Likes: 0
Hello all! Just bought my dream car, an 08 Jetstream Blue Vette on Friday. On Monday I took it right back due to a wobble that is noticable at 55 and gets almost undrivable at 90. Dealer balanced and roadforced the front 2 tires. This did nothing. THen took it back and they said the right front tire was bad and replaced it. Nothing. Wobble is the same. Any of you guys have any advice for me? I am horrrified I have made the worst decision of my life. Last time I had a wobble on a car I had to trade it in as they never figured it out. I am taking it back in tomorrow morning.
Have not heard that problem before.
I think all four wheels need balancing, not just the front. May be a bent or damaged rim?
Get an experienced corvette mechanic to take a drive with you. Take it back for warranty work and do not accept the car until you take a test drive with service rep. If it cannot be fixed, sounds like they should replace the car.
good luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,350
Likes: 273
From: Hoschton Georgia
A wobble could be any number of things involving wheels and or tires. If the dealership can't find it take it to a regular tire shop and let them figure it out and then take it back to the dealership. It can be a real pain in the a**!!! Once you have it worked out you will enjoy the ride!!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
All the advice suggestions above could be correct. And it could be your dealership doesn't have a road force balancer. But still, it could the wheel(s), the tires, the balancing---all 4 should be checked. As well as having a Chev tech go out with you for a drive to see/feel the vibration since it could be in a hub/brake/suspension also.
Finally, if they say all the wheels are fine, as are the tires and the balance, you might want to try an independent shop for at least one brand of road force balance, the Hunter line (see here for one in your area: http://www.gsp9700.com/pub/search/FindLocations.cfm)
Tell us what happens and good luck.
Finally, if they say all the wheels are fine, as are the tires and the balance, you might want to try an independent shop for at least one brand of road force balance, the Hunter line (see here for one in your area: http://www.gsp9700.com/pub/search/FindLocations.cfm)
Tell us what happens and good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,025
Likes: 1,656
From: Toronto, Canada
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,136
Likes: 212
From: Long Island New York
Let me see if I have this right.You have a dangerouus wobble at speed. Dealer balances front wheels says everything ok. You bring it back still complaining about wobble. They then say front wheel damaged! Why didnt they see that after the first balance? No way in hell I would trust a dealer after that! Find another place to bring the car!
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 395
Likes: 1
From: shelton connecticut
i had a bad tire senser.so they changed them all. I went to the dealer to change. he put it in an balanced all 4 tires without removing the wheel weights.just balanced with old wights and added more. (NEVER DO THAT) at 60 miles an hour it felt like i was on a gravel highway. I went to my speed shop I do aftermarket work with. he rebalanced after taking off all weights. on a good snap on balancer. lets just say ive been up to 190 mph with no vibrations what so ever. (except my heart racing) the car was smooth.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 854
From: Daytona Beach FL
What you are experiencing is something that owners that put on after market wheels sometimes complain of, but you shouldn't have it with OE wheels.
When the car is coming down the production line they put the rotors on the lugs and hold them on with Tinnerman nuts like these:
Those nuts just simply hold the rotor on until the car later on gets brake calipers and wheels put on, which is really what holds everything together.
The OE wheels have a countersunk area for the Tinnerman nut to fit into so the wheel can fit smooth and true on the hub face.
Some after market wheels don't have the countersunk area and don't mate flush with the hub and some owners have complained of exactly the problem you're experiencing until they take off those Tinnerman nuts to allow the wheel to fit tight up against the hub.
This shouldn't happen with OE wheels, but I'd still take off the Tinnerman nuts - they could even be interfering with the OE wheel mating up flush with the hub. Those nuts are not required at all, so it might be worth removing them to make sure they're not the problem.
Good luck!
Bob
When the car is coming down the production line they put the rotors on the lugs and hold them on with Tinnerman nuts like these:
Those nuts just simply hold the rotor on until the car later on gets brake calipers and wheels put on, which is really what holds everything together.
The OE wheels have a countersunk area for the Tinnerman nut to fit into so the wheel can fit smooth and true on the hub face.
Some after market wheels don't have the countersunk area and don't mate flush with the hub and some owners have complained of exactly the problem you're experiencing until they take off those Tinnerman nuts to allow the wheel to fit tight up against the hub.
This shouldn't happen with OE wheels, but I'd still take off the Tinnerman nuts - they could even be interfering with the OE wheel mating up flush with the hub. Those nuts are not required at all, so it might be worth removing them to make sure they're not the problem.
Good luck!
Bob
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 26
From: Austin Texas
The Dealer should know enough to check all 4 wheels. A bad rear tire/wheel can cause problems with handling. If all 4 wheels/tires are really "Roadforce" balanced (I haven't seen a dealer yet that had that very expensive equipment) then the next thing to check would be alignment.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17,373
Likes: 6
From: Chatsworth California
All the advice suggestions above could be correct. And it could be your dealership doesn't have a road force balancer. But still, it could the wheel(s), the tires, the balancing---all 4 should be checked. As well as having a Chev tech go out with you for a drive to see/feel the vibration since it could be in a hub/brake/suspension also.
Finally, if they say all the wheels are fine, as are the tires and the balance, you might want to try an independent shop for at least one brand of road force balance, the Hunter line (see here for one in your area: http://www.gsp9700.com/pub/search/FindLocations.cfm)
Tell us what happens and good luck.
Finally, if they say all the wheels are fine, as are the tires and the balance, you might want to try an independent shop for at least one brand of road force balance, the Hunter line (see here for one in your area: http://www.gsp9700.com/pub/search/FindLocations.cfm)
Tell us what happens and good luck.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
The Dealer should know enough to check all 4 wheels. A bad rear tire/wheel can cause problems with handling. If all 4 wheels/tires are really "Roadforce" balanced (I haven't seen a dealer yet that had that very expensive equipment) then the next thing to check would be alignment.
They should also inspect all steering and suspension components. They might check tire and wheel assemblies for excessive runout. A brake rotor could be imbalanced. There are more complex things they can check for but chances are it's something simple.
Race Director
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11,988
Likes: 14
Hello all! Just bought my dream car, an 08 Jetstream Blue Vette on Friday. On Monday I took it right back due to a wobble that is noticable at 55 and gets almost undrivable at 90. Dealer balanced and roadforced the front 2 tires. This did nothing. THen took it back and they said the right front tire was bad and replaced it. Nothing. Wobble is the same. Any of you guys have any advice for me? I am horrrified I have made the worst decision of my life. Last time I had a wobble on a car I had to trade it in as they never figured it out. I am taking it back in tomorrow morning.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 741
Likes: 4
From: Kennesaw GA
Might this be what the service manual calls "tire waddle"?
If so, the causes listed are:
If so, the causes listed are:
- A steel belt not being straight within the tire
- Excessive lateral runout of the tire
- Excessive lateral runout of the wheel
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Bergen County NJ
I ran into a bear of a problem like this that turned out to be water in the tires. I've also had a drive shaft do it. Bottom line they need to take the problem seriously and fix it right the first time.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,884
Likes: 174
From: Melbourne FL
St. Jude Donor '09 & '11
Although I'd bet there's an easy fix to your problem (tire or wheel), Keep in mind that we have a lemon law in Florida. Be sure to fully document each visit. I believe 3 failed attempts to fix the problem allows you to use the lemon law to get a replacement vehicle. There are Florida lawyers that specialize (I'm not one of them). Google the lemon law info - it might help if you can't get the wobbling issue resolved.