vette punk

My 2000 coupe has very poor handling on even roads, almost to the point of being dangerous. Cannot see anything loose in the front suspension, had the alignment checked/set, still handles bad. Almost like a severe pull. Any common things to check?
JB

pickleseimer

Had the same problem on my '01 vert, running old GY run-flats that were a little under 50% tread left. Especially noticable in temps 40 degrees or below. It felt like the steering wheel would jump left or right out of my hands at times, around 35-40 mph.

Replaced with a fresh set of Hankooks and problem went away entirely, plus got rid of all the tire noise.

Check the dates on your tires, old run-flats get hard and 'tramline' in the tire grooves of the poorer roads.

TGO

I read something about some cars not having some sort of plug removed from the shocks at the factory which basically made them useless. Look and see if you have a plastic strap sticking out of your shocks where the two pieces meet.

EDIT: seems to be only magnetic ride related

BLOWNBLUEZ06@RKT Performance

Did they check both front AND rear alignment?

Atok

I've been there... replace your rear tie rod ends. Even if they "feel" tight. A very tiny bit of wear makes a huge difference especially on uneven surfaces.

lionelhutz

Do the alignment numbers match exactly left to right? The factory tolerances have such a wide range that the shop could have pointed both rear wheels to the left or right and been "within spec" along with using caster and camber numbers that are way out side to side.

leadfoot4

SADLY, it gets tougher and tougher to find somebody who can do a proper wheel alignment. Believe me, if I was 20 years younger, I'd be buying my own rack....

GeneT

Tire wear, and definitely old tires

vette punk

Yes, the alignment was a 4 wheel alignment. They did set the front camber and toe at zero degrees to stop inside edge tire wear.
JB

Silverbullet00

Metal end links on the sways, C6Z06 Shocks and non runflat tires,,,on my C5


Is your car a Z51?

vette punk

No, is not a Z51, FE3.
JB

vette punk

Also thought I would mention that this car has 48000 miles on it. It is on its second set of GY Runflats, they are about 6 years old.
JB

johnson-rod

Put some tires with rounder sidewalls. You won't believe the improvement. I went from GY Runflats to Michelin Pilot Sport A/S ZPs and it felt like a new car. No more hopping and skipping around corners like an old Pinto.

VinnyT

X1000

My old Kuhmo runflats would take me all over the road. It was horrible. I lowered the pressure to 28lbs and it helped a little, but after replacing them, it was night and day.

As others said, under 40 degrees those runflats are like rocks.

JimmyS5600

leadfoot is right on,even with the new alignment racks out there

John Madeja

let me know how new tires go my runflats are also 6 years old and ride tough...

snidely

Had the same problem. Replaced the tires with Hankooks and problem disappeared.

raggy 00

I have the same problem......car start to move, but the steering wheel hasn't....its kinda worrisome when you are doing 80mph....


its like the tire is catching the edge of a pavement ridge and yanking me over... I lifted the front and everything seems firm and solid...

I replaced my tires with hankook ventus last year and I still have the same issue... I have never done and alignment since I have had the car (6 years). but it tracks pretty well, and tire wear was even.

I was thinking maybe the drive shafts were working in and out, or something odd.... that didn't show itself in "wear" that you could feel pulling and pushing the tires...

I guess the rear tires play a roll, but it seems like its a loose front end


is it possible( haven't checked yet) that the steering box could get sloppy?

thanks

raggy 00

GeneT

C4's were even worse when tire wear went below 50 %. On the C5 it's starts at about 40% tread left. It's the wide, stiff low profile tires.

raggy 00

I used to think , Its just the wide tires grabbing every little defect in the road....

my hankooks were brand new and the car was doing the same thing

my tires are not runflats!

and it is so hard to think its a tire wear issue.....then all cars would display similar traits if they had wide tires..

raggy 00