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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!
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.
I feel the same way, whenever i put in driveand i turn a full turn , i feel like my wheel loose it make noise too. but some of you say it normal then idk.
I feel the same way, whenever i put in driveand i turn a full turn , i feel like my wheel loose it make noise too. but some of you say it normal then idk.
You and everyone with the OEM tires, far worse when it gets cold. Your wheel is not lose, it’s the tires scrubbing since the front steering radius is different right to left on a slow speed, full lock turn.
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
Steering binds
