Fishtailing
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 558
Likes: 245
From: SW Kansas
Fishtailing
I have a 2016 Stingray that I bought new. One of the things I've noticed is fishtailing when I get on the throttle. I accept this as normal and if in traffic, let off the throttle to straighten it up. I assume this occurs because there is no positraction diff (what we called it in the '60s) in the Stingray like there is the Z51. Given enough gas, the right rear takes over briefly and then the left seems to take on the power. I have a basic understanding of how a diff works but cannot picture what happens inside my standard diff vs. the Z51 diff. Any volunteers to briefly teach differential 101 here?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 960
Likes: 270
From: Western PA
It fishtails because you do have positraction. If it was an open differential where only one tire spins with power it wouldn't fishtail.
I was also wondering how exactly the elsd in the Z51 operated.
I was also wondering how exactly the elsd in the Z51 operated.
Pro
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 521
Likes: 408
From: San Jose, CA
Try getting a rear CASTER alignment. I had fishtailing like you describe on my C7Z. After getting full rear caster alignment at 0.0, fishtailing decreased significantly. Factory alignment had one side positive and one side negative, which is not good, even though it was technically within GM spec. I assume same issue can happen on C7 Stingray as well.
Rear caster alignment is rare and you will need to find a good shop to do it.
Rear caster alignment is rare and you will need to find a good shop to do it.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 478
From: Maryland, USA
for a street car rear drive like a vette it may fishtail some and you will need to very slightly correct it to keep it straight.
wouldnt hurt to know the current specs of alignment for sure, i dont for mine but to be honest havent gotten on it that hard down low because still learning the power so unsure how it would hook up and move.
overall since they are pretty darn balance weight wise id suspect it track forward fairly straight when getting on it hard from stop.
all those electronics working hard.
wouldnt hurt to know the current specs of alignment for sure, i dont for mine but to be honest havent gotten on it that hard down low because still learning the power so unsure how it would hook up and move.
overall since they are pretty darn balance weight wise id suspect it track forward fairly straight when getting on it hard from stop.
all those electronics working hard.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,628
Likes: 397
From: Madison Wi
be careful. Lifting off the gas when the rear steps out of line can be very dangerous.
What can happen is if the rear is far enough out and you lift off the throttle the tires suddenly regain traction and the rear of the car violently swings back to center. Well, it doesn't stop at center, its mass causes it to go well beyond center and before you know it it spins all the way around on you and you end up going tail first into a bad place.
Leaving the traction control and Stabilitrack ON will go a long way towards helping protect you from a bad day. If your car is equipped with PTM and you put it in track mode do not select anything past Sport1 from the PTM menu.
What can happen is if the rear is far enough out and you lift off the throttle the tires suddenly regain traction and the rear of the car violently swings back to center. Well, it doesn't stop at center, its mass causes it to go well beyond center and before you know it it spins all the way around on you and you end up going tail first into a bad place.
Leaving the traction control and Stabilitrack ON will go a long way towards helping protect you from a bad day. If your car is equipped with PTM and you put it in track mode do not select anything past Sport1 from the PTM menu.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,809
Likes: 615
From: Blacksburg Va
I am a bit concerned that this happens in traffic. I can't imagine hitting the gas hard enough w/ other cars around to spin up my rear tires. I do that when somewhere by myself. What tires and tire pressures do you have? What ambient temps is this happening in?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 4,303
Likes: 2,055
From: Margate, FL
