Front end alignment
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,609
Likes: 490
From: Houston, Texas
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23
GM will pay for one free alignment on all new cars. I had my local Chevy dealer check the alignment on my 2015 at 4K miles, and it was way off. They adjusted it for free. I had them recheck it at 10K miles and it was still good. I now have 25K miles on it and front tires are good, and look like they have another 10K left on them!
Which car do you have?
Base Stingray?
Z51?
Z06?
Did they make any adjustments at 10k miles?
And did they charge you again for another alignment at 10k miles?
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,029
Likes: 2,719
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
No surprise, both the fronts had excessive toe-out that really eats tires, just like all three of our previous new Corvettes; and one of the fronts had excessive caster that was much different from the other side.
In the past, there was a minimum mileage (500 miles?) before GM would do a warranty alignment, and a maximum mileage (7,000 miles?). I'd recommend getting it checked soon after 1k miles, that should have everything settled but not waste too much of your tire tread before correcting any problems.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 116
Likes: 13
From: San Gabriel Valley California
So what is the best alignment settings for C7 GS street only to get the most out of the tires that I should ask the dealer to set?
This?
Camber: Left/Right -1.2
Toe: Left/Right/Front/Rear -0.5mm
Caster: Front +7.5 , Rear +0.7
This?
Camber: Left/Right -1.2
Toe: Left/Right/Front/Rear -0.5mm
Caster: Front +7.5 , Rear +0.7
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,609
Likes: 490
From: Houston, Texas
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23
Are the specs different for a Base model Stingray??
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Last edited by HorsePower Junkie; Oct 16, 2017 at 06:41 AM.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,077
Likes: 12,436
From: NE South Carolina
FWIW, my rear tires came from the factory with one rear at -1.7 (note, within the GM spec on the max camber side.) Had my camber reduced from centerline for better tire wear. Out of town so don't have specific values.
Only you can decide on the compromise.
Last edited by JerryU; Oct 16, 2017 at 08:06 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
Are these specs only for the GS & Z06 that have much wider tires than the Base model Stingray and the Z51 ??
Are the specs different for a Base model Stingray??
Does anone know if the Base model Stingray (non-Z51/GS/Z06) has this same issue of REAR CASTER adjustability??
Are the specs different for a Base model Stingray??
Does anone know if the Base model Stingray (non-Z51/GS/Z06) has this same issue of REAR CASTER adjustability??
And yes, the rear caster should be set properly on base models too. They are just as likely to have positive caster on one side and negative on the other. That is not good.
Last edited by Foosh; Oct 17, 2017 at 12:18 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 798
Likes: 207
From: Rougemont NC
Just got off the phone with Campbell Chevrolet in Bowling Green KY, and they do not have the tools to adjust caster. They asked me to call Leachman GMC across the street from them, but they too do not have the tools to do the adjustment. I'm picking up the car at the Museum around the last week of January of the first week of February and driving it from KY to NC. Anyone know of a dealer anywhere between KY and NC that might have the tools to do the proper alignment? I'm going to stop somewhere along the way and swap out the stock brake pads, so would love to have the alignment done at the same time. Anyone have any info on a dealer that might fit the bill here? Thanks in advance if anyone knows anything!
Last edited by Blue666's; Oct 16, 2017 at 05:12 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,029
Likes: 2,719
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
My experience has been that it takes a couple of hundred miles, or more, for everything in the suspension to settle out properly.
You might consider finding a dealer close enough to your home that you can drive the car 500-1000 miles, then get the whole alignment setup checked/adjusted and be able to use them again when/if needed.
I don't know about rear caster, but the other settings in Corvette alignments are usually not a "set it once and forget it" thing, they should be checked periodically. I didn't try to keep records, but it seemed like my alignments were usually still good after 5k miles but took some adjustment after 10k-20k miles.
You might consider finding a dealer close enough to your home that you can drive the car 500-1000 miles, then get the whole alignment setup checked/adjusted and be able to use them again when/if needed.
I don't know about rear caster, but the other settings in Corvette alignments are usually not a "set it once and forget it" thing, they should be checked periodically. I didn't try to keep records, but it seemed like my alignments were usually still good after 5k miles but took some adjustment after 10k-20k miles.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 798
Likes: 207
From: Rougemont NC
Thanks! I'll just have it checked once I get home then, that should be around 700 miles or thereabouts. I appreciate your reply! Although I AM going to have the brake pads changed out at the Chevy Dealer in Bowling Green. Don't want tons of brake-dust on the wheels while driving it home. Thanks again!
Last edited by Blue666's; Oct 17, 2017 at 12:15 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 8,243
Likes: 4,618
From: Southwest Florida
I have been measuring the tire (inner & outer) tread on all four tires since the beginning. With 9500 miles the tread is wearing evenly across all four tires which tells me I don't need an alignment.
The one thing I have discovered it's hard to find a dealership or tire store that has the tools to adjust caster along with experience adjusting the C7.
The one thing I have discovered it's hard to find a dealership or tire store that has the tools to adjust caster along with experience adjusting the C7.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,077
Likes: 12,436
From: NE South Carolina
Thanks! I'll just have it checked once I get home then, that should be around 700 miles or thereabouts. I appreciate your reply! Although I AM going to have the brake pads changed out at the Chevy Dealer in Bowling Green. Don't want tons of brake-dust on the wheels while driving it home. Thanks again!
I had the ceramic pads ready and installed with 30 miles on the car the day after I drove it home from the dealer!
I had 400 miles on the car when I brought it to a local dealer. Be sure they don't just check them as all my camber's were within the broad GM spec and one rear was at -1.7 degrees, the max allowed. They *** read in the green. I had them reduce the camber on the lower side of the spec, which for that same wheel could have been -0.5 degrees! I did not go that far! I did have one toe out that was centerline by the GM Tech. All paid for by GM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 798
Likes: 207
From: Rougemont NC
I have already ordered a set of the Carbotech pads, and as long as TSA will let me carry them in my carry-on luggage, then I'm taking them with me to Bowling Green. I've already spoken to Campbell Chevrolet in BG and they said they could knock it out in a hour or so, for $108 if I supplied the pads. So I think we're golden.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,002
Likes: 2,679
This is the spec sheet they provided after the alignment. I'll admit I'm no expert but my tire wear has improved substantially.
Attachment 48203842
Attachment 48203842
If you have out of spec toe, you get wicked fast tire wear. (it's not uniform either).