Biev

Just found out that Zr1's and other C6's with the wider tires are having steering rack failures (rack and pinion) . The failures are attributed to the extra strain the wide tires place on the components when turning at slow speeds. If your car is handling and steering tightly and then becomes twitchy, tracking the road and a slight clunk is felt in the steering wheel you have a failed steering rack. You can feel the very slight clunk at dead center by rocking the wheel back and forth very slightly.
A bulletin has been issued. GM is apparently working with the supplier to correct the weak point of the rack.
Something as simple as tight turns in a parking lot can cause a failure.

CABO-Z16

Do you have the bulletin info? I had my sterring rack replaced on my 2012 GS with 4K miles. I understand that components can fail however, was not happy that replacement was a remanufactured unit.

Biev

The Chev dealer in Lake Havasu City showed me the bulletin. Yes they are using reman parts and are at the suppliers trying to get a properly designed and built rack to replace the existing ones as they fail. I was told the ZR1's and GS and any others with the large/wider tires are subject to failure. I had 5 replaced on my 2010 ZR1 and now this will be the 2nd on on my new 2013 ZR1. I use my car as my daily driver.........

JDRacing

Thanks for sharing this, Biev. Do you have a sense of whether this is something the dealers will replace (assuming the steering rack has failed) regardless of whether the car is still under the 3 year/36K mile warranty? In other words, any sense of whether this is a recall/safety issue?

I assume it isn't covered under the 5 year/100K mile powertrain warranty.

Biev

I'm just one person, suggest bringing this up with your dealer and posting the results of your conversation. I personally think this is a safety matter.

Biev

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Gary '09 C6

I'd say that failed parts affecting the steering mechanism on the car are a safety matter.

so far, my car is fine, but something else to watch...thx.

GOLD72

Never seen nor heard of such a problem. Over 150k miles accumulated in C5 and C6 cars.

Biev

Next time you're at your dealer ask them to look up the bulletin. Service manager at Havasu Chev dealership found it very quickly.

mdz06vetter

Okay, went to the NHTSA site and there are currently TWENTY (20) service bulletins issued for 2010 Chevrolet Corvette and NOT one of them deals with what has been discussed in this thread

Biev

When my 2013 ZR1 was repaired on March 19, 2013 the bulletin was at the dealership, What else can I tell you. Check with your dealer!! Work order quotes Doc ID# 2912839. Maybe this will help you find the bulletin.

0Anthony @ LGMotorsports

This is what we have seen and what we use.

All of the race cars, including the ALMS GT2 Corvette have used stock, OEM racks with no changes other than the outer tie rods. For the most part we have had no issues with them.

In the last few years we have had failures with them as well with the GrandAm car and the latest W.C. Corvette.

Now all of the cars had NEW GM racks save for what we have had coming in lately which are all reman units. The reman units have all had issues from pressure seals leaking, to the hardlines on the units actually breaking. Even had one loose the mount to the cradle. Never anything to cause a crash but still isn't a good thing.

With that being said, I don't think a stock ZR1 is going to put any more stress on that rack than the ALMS car did......but if they are in fact using a reman unit on the cars coming out of the factory....that could be the issue.

I do know for the last 3 years you can not purchase a NEW rack from GM.



Haven't seen the bulletin but it might be worth a look at the rack to see if there is a different PN other than GM on the ones that are breaking.

Biev

The details that I have been sharing ie: slow speed strain when doing tight turns with Zr1's and other corvettes with similar size tires causing steering rack failure comes directly from the horses mouth .
"Group Manager, Brand Quality Performance Cars / Corvette"
They are saying that when you turn sharp and can feel the scuffing ( extra strain) with the wide tires this is the start that's causing the trouble. I use my car as a daily driver and getting in and out of my garage requires a sharp turn twice just to get out and again twice to get back in.
Just wish they would come up with a fix ......... they have been talking about since last December.

0Anthony @ LGMotorsports

Not saying it isn't a possible cause, just letting you know what we have seen here. Given the 18x12" front wheels and slicks on the ALMS car....I'm going to say it has a bit more strain on it.

The hopping and scuffing is a combination of tire size, compound, and camber. Doesn't help matters.

Biev

I know the Chief Instructor out at Spring Mtn track and they are not having any of these problems, ??? So it seems the track doesn't cause a problem.
The first rack failed on the 2013 after 3000 miles at a parking lot when shopping at a boutique mall, very tight parking and laneways. Doesn't this seem absurd !!!

0Anthony @ LGMotorsports

See that is just it....after 2010 you coudn't get a new rack and all of those have failed.

Biev

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Biev

Just got off the phone with GM and they are waiting for a call back from the Rack and pinion supplier to see they have a remedy.
This failure has been duplicated by GM engineering and something as simple as sitting still and turning wheel lock to lock can snap an internal part inside the rack. .............................

mdz06vetter

That Doc ID is NOT a NHTSA Service Bulletin number - so, this must something internal to GM

Biev

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