Alignment off from factory?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,048
Likes: 29
From: Palm Beach County FL
Alignment off from factory?
I noticed on the highway that the car pulls a little to the right. I have to keep continous pressure on the steering wheel, otherwise car pulls slightly to the right... I noticed it on the highway a good amount last night (70-80)
I remember when I watched the video of the cars being built, they were adjusted at the factory. so I wonder what can cause the alignment to be off slightly?
I'm going to take it to the dealer and let them know. Hopefully they can align it without charging me (will have about 500 miles by then). I was just curious what can cause it.
I remember when I watched the video of the cars being built, they were adjusted at the factory. so I wonder what can cause the alignment to be off slightly?
I'm going to take it to the dealer and let them know. Hopefully they can align it without charging me (will have about 500 miles by then). I was just curious what can cause it.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 531
Likes: 44
From: Lake Keowee, SC
I noticed on the highway that the car pulls a little to the right. I have to keep continous pressure on the steering wheel, otherwise car pulls slightly to the right... I noticed it on the highway a good amount last night (70-80)
I remember when I watched the video of the cars being built, they were adjusted at the factory. so I wonder what can cause the alignment to be off slightly?
I'm going to take it to the dealer and let them know. Hopefully they can align it without charging me (will have about 500 miles by then). I was just curious what can cause it.
I remember when I watched the video of the cars being built, they were adjusted at the factory. so I wonder what can cause the alignment to be off slightly?
I'm going to take it to the dealer and let them know. Hopefully they can align it without charging me (will have about 500 miles by then). I was just curious what can cause it.
Rod
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
From: Port Townsend WA
I called my dealer telling him of the same behavior. He said he would be willing to look at it but that it often happens because, especially with wide tires, the road wear and grooves cause it. He suggested I notice if it happened on a flat road or when I can safely drive the nose tracking the center line. And he was right, it did not pull slightly to the right as it did before.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 262
From: swoyersville pa
alignment is free up till 7,500 miles, i had a local shop put a track alignment on my car and had the dealer put it back to stock at 6,000 miles for free, next day i traded it. SO MAYBE IT WAS NOT FREE! lol
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 262
From: swoyersville pa
stock bolts?( they wont even know!) there might not be two cars the same in 10,000 coming off the line when it comes to how many threads are left on the bolts.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,048
Likes: 29
From: Palm Beach County FL
oh man! really!? my volt used to pull but I thought after like 200 miles, they won't do it. I never had it done, and it's always pulled slightly... the infiniti is dead on from the factory.
I'll be sure to take it in. I'm going to see if it's more noticeable at higher speeds vs lower speeds... thanks guys!
I'll be sure to take it in. I'm going to see if it's more noticeable at higher speeds vs lower speeds... thanks guys!
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 49
Likes: 7
I noticed on the highway that the car pulls a little to the right. I have to keep continous pressure on the steering wheel, otherwise car pulls slightly to the right... I noticed it on the highway a good amount last night (70-80)
I remember when I watched the video of the cars being built, they were adjusted at the factory. so I wonder what can cause the alignment to be off slightly?
I'm going to take it to the dealer and let them know. Hopefully they can align it without charging me (will have about 500 miles by then). I was just curious what can cause it.
I remember when I watched the video of the cars being built, they were adjusted at the factory. so I wonder what can cause the alignment to be off slightly?
I'm going to take it to the dealer and let them know. Hopefully they can align it without charging me (will have about 500 miles by then). I was just curious what can cause it.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,048
Likes: 29
From: Palm Beach County FL
It's very likely that something got missed on its way through the alignment tester at the plant. I'm the engineer responsible for this same equipment for another car manufacturer and there's a lot of scenarios where your car can be misaligned. I've been told it's even more likely at UAW based plants such as bowling green. I've seen several references on here to missing screws and bolts from the factory.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 515
Likes: 34
From: Hackensack new jersey
Do a search on the "pfadt" alignment specs. The cars leave the factory set for maximum handling. Not the best for long term tire wear or normal street driving. Had mine done with a Road Force Alignment. Same done on my 2012 Grand Sport. i did notice a difference. Pfadt specs are considered custom and not under the warrantee. only about $350 for everything.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 626
From: Baton Rouge LA
My C6 pulled to the right from the beginning and after an alignment failed to fix the problem the fault was determined to be in the tires. Swapping them out stopped the pulling. OTOH the wheel alignment showed that it was out of spec in more than one area, which makes me want to have a precautionary alignment done on my new C7. It isn't pulling at all but I would like to have some peace of mind that it is in spec, as I don't have it based on previous experience. My dealer told me if I had no complaint--i.e., pulling right or left--there is no reason to check it. IOW, they don't want to do it without a complaint, although they might do it if I whined enough. Has anyone ever had an alignment checked on a new vehicle by simply asking for it?
Last edited by iclick; Mar 8, 2015 at 06:17 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 211
From: Marana, Arizona
Lots of owners have had this complaint. Mine pulled to the right on my 1,800 mile trip home from the museum. Took it to a local dealer for an alignment and no more issues. Don't listen to the "wide tires" nonsense. The alignment is free.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,873
Likes: 5
From: Michigan
I had the same issue with my car pulling to the right. 70-80 Mph I took it in and they said the alignment was correct. However there was a TSB out that other people were having the same problem.
They adjusted the camber a little bit and it solved that problem.
They adjusted the camber a little bit and it solved that problem.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 680
Likes: 17
From: Moulton Alabama
Cruise-In 8-9-10-12 Veteran
It's very likely that something got missed on its way through the alignment tester at the plant. I'm the engineer responsible for this same equipment for another car manufacturer and there's a lot of scenarios where your car can be misaligned. I've been told it's even more likely at UAW based plants such as bowling green. I've seen several references on here to missing screws and bolts from the factory.
Kind of a blind slap at the Corvette Plant. It is no more likely to have anything done wrong in Bowling Green than any other manufacturing plant.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 110
Likes: 3
From: Temple Terrace Florida
Weighing in here with the same problem on my 2014 coupe that I bought used a month ago. It has 13,000 miles and pulls slightly (but consistently) to the right. I'm going in this Wednesday for the fuel filler recall and I am having them align it while it is there. Of course not covered by warranty, but $89 to potentially save $1300 in tires is worth it. Hopefully it fixes the problem.
It's interesting that everyone is pulling to the right. Nobody seems to have one pulling to the left. Weird. That alone would lead one to think there may be an inherent problem.
It's interesting that everyone is pulling to the right. Nobody seems to have one pulling to the left. Weird. That alone would lead one to think there may be an inherent problem.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 618
Likes: 3
From: South East Texas
Weighing in here with the same problem on my 2014 coupe that I bought used a month ago. It has 13,000 miles and pulls slightly (but consistently) to the right. I'm going in this Wednesday for the fuel filler recall and I am having them align it while it is there. Of course not covered by warranty, but $89 to potentially save $1300 in tires is worth it. Hopefully it fixes the problem.
It's interesting that everyone is pulling to the right. Nobody seems to have one pulling to the left. Weird. That alone would lead one to think there may be an inherent problem.
It's interesting that everyone is pulling to the right. Nobody seems to have one pulling to the left. Weird. That alone would lead one to think there may be an inherent problem.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 31
Likes: 2
Bought my car and drove it home 200 miles from the dealership. The car pulled like crazy to the right on interstate but not as bad on two lane road. Maybe something to do with the crown on the road? Took it into the local dealer and they did an alignment along with my 500 mile oil change. Service manager told me the car was indeed out of alignment and I have not had any problems since. There was no charge on this alignment.
I also noticed that he had printed up some paperwork (looked like a service bulletin) about a vehicle pulling to the right. Saw this while he was looking up the bulletin about using Mobil 1 oil. He had already read about the 500 mile oil change. Small dealership that doesn't sell but a handfull of corvettes a year.
I also noticed that he had printed up some paperwork (looked like a service bulletin) about a vehicle pulling to the right. Saw this while he was looking up the bulletin about using Mobil 1 oil. He had already read about the 500 mile oil change. Small dealership that doesn't sell but a handfull of corvettes a year.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 110
Likes: 3
From: Temple Terrace Florida
Yeah, I considered the crown in the road, but mine is very consistent regardless of the road and regardless of the lane. It's very minor, but noticible. Also, none of my other cars have ever pulled on these same roads. I'm betting on minor alignment adjustment.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,048
Likes: 29
From: Palm Beach County FL
Yeah, I'm going to take it in and see what they say. They have 1 corvette tech and he's the only one who works on the corvettes. If anything they can confirm something is indeed out of spec. Won't hurt. Even though I don't have a Z51, I'm also going to ask them to change the oil, so the initial break in stuff is gone. just piece of mind for me. Start fresh with new oil after break in period.