wheel alignment
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Southern CA
wheel alignment
this is my first Corvette. I have a 2013 grand sports, and I recently bought my first set of Michelin Pilot super sports 13500 miles to replace the OMG good years. The vehicle would drift somewhat to the right before I replace the tires, and when the vehicle was knew it would track straight on the freeway.
I took the vehicle to the dealer the day after the four new tires were put on to get a wheel alignment. The vehicle still pulls to the right although not as bad, and the service advisor told me that the wheel alignment is within specifications from the factory, and the drifting to the right is because the road is crowned.
Should I get the alignment altered so the vehicle tracker in a straight line or should I leave well enough alone.
Thank you for your help.
I took the vehicle to the dealer the day after the four new tires were put on to get a wheel alignment. The vehicle still pulls to the right although not as bad, and the service advisor told me that the wheel alignment is within specifications from the factory, and the drifting to the right is because the road is crowned.
Should I get the alignment altered so the vehicle tracker in a straight line or should I leave well enough alone.
Thank you for your help.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
Drifting due to the road crown is normal but it shouldn't be so bad that it's obtrusive or concerning. That said, the nature of wide tires like on the GS amplifies all behavior, like tramlining (following the grooves in the road).
So, what you are experiencing "may be" okay and normal, or not. Can't say without some perspective. If you continue to be concerned you might try an alignment again, maybe with an independent specialist who knows Corvettes. If you go back to the dealer tell them you want all the settings exactly in the "middle" of the factory specs, not just within specs. Because, with a lazy technician, within spec can mean the left side is at the low side of the spec while the right side is at the high side of the spec, which can cause unwanted behavior. You want both sides the same and in the middle. AND you want "0" toe.
So, what you are experiencing "may be" okay and normal, or not. Can't say without some perspective. If you continue to be concerned you might try an alignment again, maybe with an independent specialist who knows Corvettes. If you go back to the dealer tell them you want all the settings exactly in the "middle" of the factory specs, not just within specs. Because, with a lazy technician, within spec can mean the left side is at the low side of the spec while the right side is at the high side of the spec, which can cause unwanted behavior. You want both sides the same and in the middle. AND you want "0" toe.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 314
Likes: 4
From: Ontario
Ours was set up with as close to zero camber as they could get. Within factory spec. is a half hearted alignment job. You want it as close to right as you can get, not plus or minus a bit. We have two sets of front wheels and tires and both, with factory camber specs, were wearing on the inside. I'm looking at getting new Michelins this summer so It will be a while before I will serve judgement on what we did was good or bad. It doesn't seem to steer any differently and I am not mister racecar so I don't need a race setup.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,798
Likes: 25
From: Pine Bluff Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21
I have "0" toe, and camber. No complaints. Tires still look new after 20K miles.
You can type in "wheel alignment" in the 'Search' area at the top of this page, and probably read all night about it.
You can type in "wheel alignment" in the 'Search' area at the top of this page, and probably read all night about it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,006
Likes: 245
From: Surprise, Az
Two things, the roads we drive on today have significant wear from trucks and up here in Washington state, studded tires so due to the square shouldered tires on the GS or the Base cars, they will tend to follow lines in the road, let alone worn lanes in the freeway. My Toyota pickup did the very same thing to the same degree and it too has square shouldered tires. With the performance of the Corvette and the quick steering response, we a little more sensitive to it.
Its TOE that causes excessive tire wear, not camber (within reason). So minimal toe, -1.0 degree camber front, -.7 rear and minimal toe will produce a good handling car for the street.
Its TOE that causes excessive tire wear, not camber (within reason). So minimal toe, -1.0 degree camber front, -.7 rear and minimal toe will produce a good handling car for the street.
SUBVETTE
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 93
From: San Diego CA
www.pfadtracing.com is the place to get alignment specs that have worked well for a lot of members. Performance Street specs are probably what you should use. Click on the tech tab at the website to bring up their alignment specs.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,066
Likes: 9,834
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Being within factory specs doesn't mean much. They are twice as wide as the proverbial barn door. Did they give you the measurement sheet from the alignment machine? If so post a copy of it here so people can see the actual numbers. That way we can make recommendations on what you should do.
Be careful with the Pfadt Specs. They use a negative sign for toe in when most machines and shops consider toe in to be a positive number. Other than that tricky little chance for a mistake they are a great way to go. All of the Pfadt street specs are pretty much within the GM specs.
Bill
Be careful with the Pfadt Specs. They use a negative sign for toe in when most machines and shops consider toe in to be a positive number. Other than that tricky little chance for a mistake they are a great way to go. All of the Pfadt street specs are pretty much within the GM specs.
Bill