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Chassis Lubrication 2008

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Old Jun 6, 2014 | 07:51 AM
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Default Chassis Lubrication 2008

I have a 2008 LT3 Base car, traction control, magnetic ride, and Z51 sway bars. The car only has 25600 miles and is in near show room condition from top to bottom. I have had the car for almost 2 months and have noticed that the front suspension pops when turning into a driveway or parking lot where the suspension is twisted do to the grade. It sounds like a ball joint that needs grease but there are no zerks.
I am thinking about using my needle greaser but wondering if anyone has a better solution.

All of the bushings and pivot joints look new so I really see no reason to rebuild the complete suspension. It is hard to tell exactly where the popping comes from but I know it is in the front.

I would be very greatful for any information you could provide.

Best Regards,
Kenneth Harbin
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Old Jun 6, 2014 | 08:41 AM
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Nothing needs greased. It's more then likely your swaybar endlinks.
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Old Jun 6, 2014 | 09:06 AM
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Do you have the wheel turned completely left or right as far as it will go when this happens? If so its just the tires scrubbing and is normal with wide front tires.
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Old Jun 6, 2014 | 11:19 AM
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It's a real common issue with no documented cause. Most definitely the sway bar end links have died. Once one goes away the others soon follow. A little over $100 for for all 4.

You'll need a 18mm open end wrench and a 18mm socket to change them. Torque to 53#. It's an easy garage DIY. If you take off the wheels you have lots of extra working room.

Lube the 2 fittings on the rear suspension while you're at it.
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Old Jun 6, 2014 | 04:32 PM
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I wi have to take a closer look. I have the original sway bars, which were replaced with the Z51 ones. They may have dry rotted where I can't see so will take one off thesis weekend a see. I appreciate the info, btw this happens when the wheel is slightly turned, the tires are not rubbing for sure, really sounds like a dry ball joint.
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Old Jun 6, 2014 | 06:21 PM
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Originally Posted by SK360
Nothing needs greased. It's more then likely your swaybar endlinks.
If the car is Z51 (from the factory) then there are two greaseable fittings on the rear tie rod ends...that's it for greasing. If not Z51 then there are no fittings to grease. Do not puncture the boots to grease. It is very likely the end links on the sway bar that are making the noise. You can jack up one corner of the car and pull on the sides of the front wheel to test ball joint integrity.
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Old Jun 6, 2014 | 07:06 PM
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Originally Posted by cclive
If the car is Z51 (from the factory) then there are two greaseable fittings on the rear tie rod ends...that's it for greasing. If not Z51 then there are no fittings to grease. Do not puncture the boots to grease. It is very likely the end links on the sway bar that are making the noise. You can jack up one corner of the car and pull on the sides of the front wheel to test ball joint integrity.
F55 also has the grease fittings, which is what the OP has. IIRC that was effective at the same time the F55 got the J55 (often referred to as Z51) brakes.
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Old Jun 6, 2014 | 08:05 PM
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Originally Posted by HOXXOH
F55 also has the grease fittings, which is what the OP has. IIRC that was effective at the same time the F55 got the J55 (often referred to as Z51) brakes.
Sounds good and I agree...by 2008, the F55 had Z51 brakes.
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Old Jun 6, 2014 | 08:30 PM
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Originally Posted by SK360
Nothing needs greased. It's more then likely your swaybar endlinks.
That is where I would look. I replace all 4 a few weeks ago...a very simple fix and inexpensive.
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Old Jun 6, 2014 | 11:54 PM
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Originally Posted by EVRose
Do you have the wheel turned completely left or right as far as it will go when this happens? If so its just the tires scrubbing and is normal with wide front tires.
My diagnosis as well.
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Old Jun 7, 2014 | 12:05 AM
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Originally Posted by cclive
Sounds good and I agree...by 2008, the F55 had Z51 brakes.
Mine does not have the Z51 package, I don't think it was available with the F55 Magnetic Ride. Mine was ordered with the F55 which includes the Z51 brakes and it also had the Z51 2.73 ratio rear axel option. The original owner had the Z51 sway bars put on it making it in effect the full Z51 package.

Seems like the sway bars are most likely the culprit, I will take a closer look tomorrow. Thanks all for the information.
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Old Jun 7, 2014 | 02:42 AM
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Originally Posted by TX-Techman
Mine does not have the Z51 package, I don't think it was available with the F55 Magnetic Ride. Mine was ordered with the F55 which includes the Z51 brakes and it also had the Z51 2.73 ratio rear axel option. The original owner had the Z51 sway bars put on it making it in effect the full Z51 package.

Seems like the sway bars are most likely the culprit, I will take a closer look tomorrow. Thanks all for the information.
Try not to get confused between the Z51 performance option parts and the parts on your car. The only parts you currently have that are exclusively from the Z51 package are the sway bars. A lot of base and F55 owners swapped out their stock sways for the ones from the Z51 option. There are no brakes called Z51 brakes, they are J55 brakes. They are used on both the Z51 option, the F55 option, and as a stand alone option. Even though the 2.73 axle ratio was a standard part of the Z51 option for A6 equipped cars it was also a stand alone option on any '08 A6 car. The Z51 option also included several other parts, such as different rate springs, different shocks and different tires. when ordered with a M6 transmission, the gear ratios were different and it included an engine oil cooler.
You can look on your glovebox lid for all the parts codes that were factory supplied. You can then look at the ordering guide on corvetteactioncenter.com to decipher those items.
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Old Jun 7, 2014 | 07:11 PM
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And I meant that F55 had the same brakes as the Z51 package, which indeed are J55 brakes.
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Old Jun 7, 2014 | 10:19 PM
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Originally Posted by SK360
Nothing needs greased. It's more then likely your swaybar endlinks.
Actually that isn't true for all C6 Vettes. He has a Z51 and Z51s plus the Z06/GS/ZR1 have rear toe links with zerks that need to be lubricated when the oil is changed or after every track day (check the owner's manual).

However, other than the rear toe links he doesn't need to lubricate anything.

Bill
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Old Jun 8, 2014 | 01:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Bill Dearborn
Actually that isn't true for all C6 Vettes. He has a Z51 and Z51s plus the Z06/GS/ZR1 have rear toe links with zerks that need to be lubricated when the oil is changed or after every track day (check the owner's manual).

However, other than the rear toe links he doesn't need to lubricate anything.

Bill
Bill, the OP has a F55 equipped car, not the Z51 option. But the F55 option also included the zerks on the rear toe links.
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Old Jun 8, 2014 | 11:55 AM
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Hi all, thanks for the info, I did not get a chance to get it on the lift yesterday so maybe later today. Based on the info I am betting on the sway bar bushings. I am thinking about getting an extended warranty, if so this might be a covered repair:-)
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Old Jun 8, 2014 | 02:02 PM
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Originally Posted by HOXXOH
Bill, the OP has a F55 equipped car, not the Z51 option. But the F55 option also included the zerks on the rear toe links.
I can't remember but is it possible that they didn't put the zerks on the F55 car until the F55 option started to include the J55 brakes? I think it was '08 when J55 was included in F55.
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Old Jun 8, 2014 | 07:36 PM
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this??? I had my end links replaced just before the Warranty expired. When it is time to replace them again I will buy some aftermarket links of a little better quality. Thanx for reminding me, I just greased mine.
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Last edited by ls1121; Jun 8, 2014 at 08:50 PM.
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Old Jun 8, 2014 | 09:54 PM
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Originally Posted by cclive
I can't remember but is it possible that they didn't put the zerks on the F55 car until the F55 option started to include the J55 brakes? I think it was '08 when J55 was included in F55.
J55 brakes became part of the F55 package in '07.
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Old Jun 8, 2014 | 10:44 PM
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Originally Posted by HOXXOH
J55 brakes became part of the F55 package in '07.
I wasn't sure of the year, but I was close...thanks
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