Steering binds
#1
4th Gear
Thread Starter
Steering binds
I just brought my new C7 home a couple of weeks ago...I LOVE IT! One question though. Whenever I turn the steering wheel full travel when at very low speed, backing out of my garage for example, there is a very perceptible binding, as if the tires were rubbing in the wheel well. Is this normal or is there a problem. I’ve never noticed such an issue with other cars/truck that I drive. Thanks for any info you can give on this!
#2
Moderator/Tech Contributor
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Location: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
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2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Normal tire skip. The Ackermann effect is what you are feeling.
It's mentioned in your Owner's manual.
Elmer
It's mentioned in your Owner's manual.
Elmer
Last edited by eboggs_jkvl; 10-27-2018 at 09:55 AM. Reason: added GIF
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Fishkat (10-27-2018)
#4
Race Director
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Check the Manual They all do it.
#5
Melting Slicks
Since the corvette is built for cornering performance it doesn't use Ackermann steering geometry that compromises track performance.
#6
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
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It is more than Ackerman Steering radius compensation geometry. It’s the race car type tire slip angle of the OEM Michelin tires.
Got my 2014 Z51 in October 2013 before there was any info other the GMs, “it’s normal!” When backing out of my garage I need a full lock turn to go down my driveway. When warm no issue, but when below 50F the “chatter” as GM calls it was so much worse than my C6 Z51 I did the research to find out why. It showed that it could be the race car type very low tire slip angles of the OEM tires.
Latter forum posters proved that was right as it goes away with more normal slip angle winter tires or most all-season tires at the SAME Ackerman steering geometry! This is a PDF with many pics and text o that research and updated tire info: http://netwelding.com/wheel_chatter.pdf
Pic below shows full Ackerman is not needed or designed into most cars as more normal tire slip angle provides some of the needed steering radius compensation of very sharp slow speed turns.
Easy workaround: when below 50 F I don’t turn my wheel fully and make a “K” turn to go down my driveway! It does no harm but I don’t like the feel. When below 35 to 40 F, I make two “K” turns! While taking the extra time I think about the smile that 1.2 “g” lateral acceleration around the fountain at the end of my street causes when it’s warm! Yep the Ackerman steering is set for max lateral “g” force when the tires are warm.
PS: It’s also not the “sticky tires” as GM says it worse when wet which my 5 year experiance validates. PDF defines why.
Last edited by JerryU; 11-06-2018 at 01:04 AM.
#8
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
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Read post #6. If you want full tech details as to why you ”feel” the chatter as GM calls it, read my PDF.
If you don’t like it:
1) turn the wheel less when it’s below about 50 F and make a “K” turn. That is what I have done for ~5 years with C7’s.
2) buy winter or all-terrain tires and give up the maximum lateral “g” force in turns when it’s warm
Last edited by JerryU; 11-07-2018 at 06:24 AM.
#9
Melting Slicks
I think there are a couple more options:
3) Go faster when turning
4) Get winter and summer wheels and tires.
3) Go faster when turning
4) Get winter and summer wheels and tires.