Vibration Issue
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 315
From: Bridgewater New Jersey
update: took a test drive with a GM mechanic. he said its 95% the Torque Tube. He said there have been a 'few' failures on the C6's. I have it scheduled to hit the dealer this week for official diagnostic and then replacement.
will update this thread as soon as it comes in
Extrapilot - the vibration is audible and you can feel it. it starts at 40 and peaks at 75 in my case. (the only cure at the moment is AC/DC)
will update this thread as soon as it comes in
Extrapilot - the vibration is audible and you can feel it. it starts at 40 and peaks at 75 in my case. (the only cure at the moment is AC/DC)
Wow, 4000 miles and the driveshaft is a problem!....
Should be covered, right?
I'll be listening...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 204
Likes: 8
this issue seems to be wide spread through many corvette C6 models!!! im a first time Vette owner bought a 2012 Centennial Edition ZR1 and i have this same vibration/steering wheel spiutter.... seems to be very common on the ZR1 (or the limited production of ZR1s and majority of their owners being forum members reporting the issue may make it seem more pronounced haha) anyways im currently on the OEM pilot sport run flats. i did an alignment which corrected the cars tendency to dart every which way while cruising but this vibration still is there from 70+ ... its the same "in and out" type of vibration where it shakes then smooths out and repeat... many ZR1 members have gone through it all trying to zro in this problem some have cured it but most "cures" werent accomplished the same way! the most common thing people have looked into was unbalanced rotors and being a ZR1 owner with those expensive CC rotors i cant just buy new ones and see...
i have read a lot about "indexing" your wheels which would kind of make sense if this is a OEM procedure from the factory? would also make sense as to why some people after changing tires or removing their wheels in general now experience this vibration!
i have read a lot about "indexing" your wheels which would kind of make sense if this is a OEM procedure from the factory? would also make sense as to why some people after changing tires or removing their wheels in general now experience this vibration!
Pro
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 512
Likes: 25
From: Ashland KY
I'm not familiar with the operations of the road force machines, but I suspect one of only two things. The machine is out of calibration, if that's possible, or the tire/tires are defective. Since you had no issues before the tire change, this seems to be the only conclusions, IMO
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
I recently ordered new tires from tire rack and the local GM dealer road force balanced them. THey had a vibration even though they got them down to 3 and 8, on the back, which is where the vibration was coming from. I took it to a tire dealer that I frequently use and they rebalanced them on a regular spin balancer. NO more vibration.
I had mine road force balanced twice trying to get rid of this noise , it got better but it's still there so I was going to take it to the dealer and see if it is a wheel bearing
Dave
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 211
Likes: 5
Hi all,
This is my first post, I've used this site for awhile now and its a great resource. I hope to get familiar enough with this car to be able to provide some help in return one day. Anyways I'm finally stumped enough to have to write my own post beacuse I can't find any more suggestions in my searching.
I own a 2009 z51 base with about 26,000miles (it has npp and competition gray wheels otherwise LT1 stock). I finally did my first upgrade to switch to non-runflat Michilen Pilot Super Sports from stock tires. I got the tires from tire rack and installed them myself and roadforce balanced them myself (I work at an engineering company that has the equipment available to the engineers and have been trained to use these machines). I got out on the road and when I got to 75mph I started getting a vibration in the steering wheel. The vibration seems to come and go slightly, it is a very light vibration. Since then I have balanced the fronts 4 more times, got the roadforce as low as possible on the front tires (around 10), got an alignment, and had one of our professional mechanics roadforce balance the tires (with no change). I still get a vibration around 80mph. I am using the stock rims that the stock tires came off of and measured runout to be at most .005. None of the tires showed out of spec on the balancer as far as radial runout. I made sure to install by properly torquing the wheels by hand and then slowly up to 100ftlb. What else could be the issue?
-Ive seen the suggestion to remove the lock washers that hold the rotor on but only if you have aftermarket wheels, which i dont.
-turning the rim one lug at a time. This makes no sense to me, can anyone explain? The wheel and tire should be balanced and so should the hub why would this change anything?
-Moving the rims side to side. Again why would this change anything if the wheels were balance ofd the car?
-wheel bearing may be bad. Why wouldnt the vibration be present with the old tires?
Anybody got any other ideas or explinations? I am very particular about the way my cars ride and I am desperate to get the car back to where it rides smooth as silk as it did before the 1200$ tires I put on.
Sorry for the long post,
Brett
This is my first post, I've used this site for awhile now and its a great resource. I hope to get familiar enough with this car to be able to provide some help in return one day. Anyways I'm finally stumped enough to have to write my own post beacuse I can't find any more suggestions in my searching.
I own a 2009 z51 base with about 26,000miles (it has npp and competition gray wheels otherwise LT1 stock). I finally did my first upgrade to switch to non-runflat Michilen Pilot Super Sports from stock tires. I got the tires from tire rack and installed them myself and roadforce balanced them myself (I work at an engineering company that has the equipment available to the engineers and have been trained to use these machines). I got out on the road and when I got to 75mph I started getting a vibration in the steering wheel. The vibration seems to come and go slightly, it is a very light vibration. Since then I have balanced the fronts 4 more times, got the roadforce as low as possible on the front tires (around 10), got an alignment, and had one of our professional mechanics roadforce balance the tires (with no change). I still get a vibration around 80mph. I am using the stock rims that the stock tires came off of and measured runout to be at most .005. None of the tires showed out of spec on the balancer as far as radial runout. I made sure to install by properly torquing the wheels by hand and then slowly up to 100ftlb. What else could be the issue?
-Ive seen the suggestion to remove the lock washers that hold the rotor on but only if you have aftermarket wheels, which i dont.
-turning the rim one lug at a time. This makes no sense to me, can anyone explain? The wheel and tire should be balanced and so should the hub why would this change anything?
-Moving the rims side to side. Again why would this change anything if the wheels were balance ofd the car?
-wheel bearing may be bad. Why wouldnt the vibration be present with the old tires?
Anybody got any other ideas or explinations? I am very particular about the way my cars ride and I am desperate to get the car back to where it rides smooth as silk as it did before the 1200$ tires I put on.
Sorry for the long post,
Brett
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,576
Likes: 237
From: Murphy NC
Have you checked your rotors? You might have one which is slightly warped.
The cheap way is to take them to a machine shop and have them turned. It is about 10.00 per corner.
If that fixes it then consider replacing the rotors.
On the Z51 new rotors and pads are under 300.00 for all four.
The cheap way is to take them to a machine shop and have them turned. It is about 10.00 per corner.
If that fixes it then consider replacing the rotors.
On the Z51 new rotors and pads are under 300.00 for all four.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 315
From: Bridgewater New Jersey
I recently ordered new tires from tire rack and the local GM dealer road force balanced them. THey had a vibration even though they got them down to 3 and 8, on the back, which is where the vibration was coming from. I took it to a tire dealer that I frequently use and they rebalanced them on a regular spin balancer. NO more vibration.
This may or may not be a cure for all, but since your findings was positive, this gives me more of a reason to recommend trying a spin balancer machine as well.
Last edited by extrapilot; Jul 27, 2016 at 08:20 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 140
Likes: 59
From: Neenah WI
2016 C6 of the Year Finalist
Exact same vibration as described here
As described by the OP, had the same vibration and it started getting worse after a week long road trip. I just got back from my Discount Tire in Appleton, WI. Thought I might as well start with the wheels and tires after reading this thread.
Short story? Smooth as a baby's bottom now, one hour after pulling in to the store, after a rebalance. Best 60 bucks I spent lately.
Long story? No spin matching necessary, the numbers were all below .020. One was even at .008. But the weights were off, probably due to tire wear.
LF - .008, added .75 oz outside
RF - .018, added .75 oz inside and outside
LR - .012, added .25 oz inside
RR - .019, added 1.25 oz inside
It appears those two right side tires were probably the culprits.
Short story? Smooth as a baby's bottom now, one hour after pulling in to the store, after a rebalance. Best 60 bucks I spent lately.
Long story? No spin matching necessary, the numbers were all below .020. One was even at .008. But the weights were off, probably due to tire wear.
LF - .008, added .75 oz outside
RF - .018, added .75 oz inside and outside
LR - .012, added .25 oz inside
RR - .019, added 1.25 oz inside
It appears those two right side tires were probably the culprits.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 408
Likes: 25
From: Sacramento CA
what happend to OP? or guy that had his hub bearing replaced did it permanently fix the issue? I am experiencing the same thing after purchasing new tires( several months ago) . I've had it balanced three times since but can still feel the steering wheel vibrate from my right hand to left at 70+ mph.