Get the alignment checked!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,194
Likes: 7
From: Euless Texas
Get the alignment checked!
I was washing mine a few weeks ago, and noticed the inside shoulder of the right front was wearing. It wasn't bad yet, but it was certainly abnormal wear given the mileage (12k), and didn't match the right side. Soooo, off to the shop this morning, and sure enough, it was out of spec. RF was out of spec for toe and camber, LF was WAY out of toe. LR was .01 degrees out on toe. RR was the only one in the specified range. Car has never been tracked or abused, and was not exhibiting any pull or otherwise noticable traits that would indicate a problem. So the moral of the story is, get your new ones checked before it starts chewing your shoes up. The guy that did it said that the Corvettes continue to settle quite a bit compared to most other cars when they first hit the road, and that the rumble strips at the factory are only the starting point, so what was a good alignment at the factory ends up being not so much after a few thousand miles. FWIW
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,503
Likes: 210
From: Las Vegas Nevada
2020 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I think this is good advice. I had a museum delivery on Jan 22 and a 2,000 mile drive home so I assume that the car has settled. I plan to get an oil change and wheel alighnment this week. Preventive maintenance is always the best way to go.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,024
Likes: 13
From: Loveland CO to Central Coast CA
After about a week & 500 miles in my new 09 C6, I took it to the dealer to have it aligned. In my case, I noticed a slight pull to the right at highway speeds.
Unfortunately, if you just tell a dealer to check the alignment, it's not covered under warranty... you have to describe the problem you're experiencing.
I told the dealer I would pay for the alignment service if it was within spec. But it cost me nothing; it was out-of-spec, and the dealer aligned it for free under warranty.
BTW, it's not just Corvettes. I've had alignment problems with several new cars over the years. The worst was a '96 Camry. For me, it's just routine to get an alignment on any new car. But it's especially important for the C6 because the tires are EXPENSIVE!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
I was washing mine a few weeks ago, and noticed the inside shoulder of the right front was wearing. It wasn't bad yet, but it was certainly abnormal wear given the mileage (12k), and didn't match the right side. Soooo, off to the shop this morning, and sure enough, it was out of spec. RF was out of spec for toe and camber, LF was WAY out of toe. LR was .01 degrees out on toe. RR was the only one in the specified range. Car has never been tracked or abused, and was not exhibiting any pull or otherwise noticable traits that would indicate a problem. So the moral of the story is, get your new ones checked before it starts chewing your shoes up. The guy that did it said that the Corvettes continue to settle quite a bit compared to most other cars when they first hit the road, and that the rumble strips at the factory are only the starting point, so what was a good alignment at the factory ends up being not so much after a few thousand miles. FWIW
And I wouldn't even bet on it being a good alignment at the factory as they just don't have the time. Think about how many cars they produce per day, then ask yourself if your alignment guy could do that many....or even if two of your alignment guys could...
Last edited by cclive; Feb 1, 2010 at 12:17 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,684
Likes: 107
From: Opelika Alabama
.01 degree this is a hundreth of a degree, if you have Z51 tire's 12000 is almost wore out, I don't want to shock you but.... YOUR NOT THE FIRST ONE TO NOTICE THIS, if you did a search you would have found 14,000 posts/threads on the subject THIS HAPPENS ON ALL CARS WITH TIRE"S THIS WIDE it is how a wheel/tire travels through the arc of travel of the suspension. at a little over 11000 on my new set of tire's I am noticing the inside's front and rear starting to scrub/cup ever so slightly, I am going to take it in soon and have the tire's swaped left to right, this is what my tire guy recommend'ed. my stock base model run flats were worn to the cords on the front inside at 22000, I changed the rears at 24000 and they were more even and still had a little left, and I had my alinement done at that time and it was not off!
Last edited by CMY SIX; Feb 1, 2010 at 02:57 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 329
Likes: 17
From: Hudson, WI
Firestone tire shops will sell you a lifetime alignment. I've bought this on my last several cars and take them in for a check every 6000 miles. It was a little pricey on the Vette, but well worth it for the piece of mind and tire longevity it will provide. My local Firestone has always been very careful with every car I've taken them and the Vette was no exception. I highly recommend it.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,194
Likes: 7
From: Euless Texas
.01 degree this is a hundreth of a degree, if you have Z51 tire's 12000 is almost wore out, I don't want to shock you but.... YOUR NOT THE FIRST ONE TO NOTICE THIS, if you did a search you would have found 14,000 posts/threads on the subject THIS HAPPENS ON ALL CARS WITH TIRE"S THIS WIDE it is how a wheel/tire travels through the arc of travel of the suspension. at a little over 11000 on my new set of tire's I am noticing the inside's front and rear starting to scrub/cup ever so slightly, I am going to take it in soon and have the tire's swaped left to right, this is what my tire guy recommend'ed. my stock base model run flats were worn to the cords on the front inside at 22000, I changed the rears at 24000 and they were more even and still had a little left, and I had my alinement done at that time and it was not off!
Not sure why you'd think it's normal to wear like this, this is my 3rd Vette, and currently on my 5th Fbody, and none have ever worn like this, so it's not a wide tire problem. My tire was wearing funny, I took it in, it was out of alignment. Makes sense to me.
Last edited by Vettin08; Feb 1, 2010 at 06:03 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 846
Likes: 3
From: Las Vegas NV
.01 degree this is a hundreth of a degree, if you have Z51 tire's 12000 is almost wore out, I don't want to shock you but.... YOUR NOT THE FIRST ONE TO NOTICE THIS, if you did a search you would have found 14,000 posts/threads on the subject THIS HAPPENS ON ALL CARS WITH TIRE"S THIS WIDE it is how a wheel/tire travels through the arc of travel of the suspension. at a little over 11000 on my new set of tire's I am noticing the inside's front and rear starting to scrub/cup ever so slightly, I am going to take it in soon and have the tire's swaped left to right, this is what my tire guy recommend'ed. my stock base model run flats were worn to the cords on the front inside at 22000, I changed the rears at 24000 and they were more even and still had a little left, and I had my alinement done at that time and it was not off!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
According to the guy at the assembly plant, it takes 10 minutes with the state of the art equipment to do a proper alignment. He's given 3 minutes. So always get a new car aligned immediately. I didn't know this assuming it was perfect from the factory. Trashed my tires way too early.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,194
Likes: 7
From: Euless Texas
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
