Weird Steering
#1
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Weird Steering
Hey Guys. Got a 2009 Z51 a few weeks back. It has 57k miles on it. A1 condition. Love it so far. But on some roads it likes to steer me vice me steering it. Nothing violent, but I wonder if folks behind me think I'm drunk. It has a set of Goodyear Eagle F1's on the front that need replacing. Putting on Michelin A/S 3 runflats to match the rears. Gonna have them check the alignment too. I'm assuming this is not a normal characteristic of a C6? This is my first C6 after having two C7's. The C7's had a few issues to deal with, but not this.
#3
Had this issue with different tire brands on the front and the back. Felt like the back end was lagging behind the front. Tire guy said it can happen especially if you mix performance tires with all seasons. The side walls may not be the same stiffness. Match your tires and it will all be good.
#4
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Firstly, I've got Michelin A/S 3+ run flats on all 4 corners and it handles and rides just fine. I suggest you replace your front tires as you planned and get a precise alignment done according to the PFADT specs for the type of driving you do. Tell the alignment shop you want it exact and not just 'in the green'. Then see how it handles. Because the tires are so wide, the car tends to do a bit of 'tramlining' which is what you are probably experiencing, probably made worse by the existing alignment and worn rubber.
#6
Burning Brakes
FatsWaller is right. I had the same experience with my new-to-me 2013 Grand Sport. Only 11k miles, but 4 years old at the time and the car would want to drive all over the road, some roads worse than others. I had already replaced the rears with Michelin Pilot Sports & replaced the fronts with the A/S3+. Had my alignment shop match the PFADT street specs exactly and now drives like a dream.
Enjoy your ride...GD
Enjoy your ride...GD
#7
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Welp, finally put the new tires on to match the rears. And had the tire shop put the tires on new wheels that I got from Florida speed shop. Had to take the tires and wheels to them as the car wasn't registered at the time. Is now. So no alinement done yet. Anyways, the tramlining is totally gone though. But, got a moderate front end vibe/wobble when I reach 60. Feel it in the gas pedal and shifter and slightly in the steering wheel. Then get a bad steering wheel shake at 80. It was smooth as silk with the crap goodyears and OEM chrome wheels. Gonna take the car into them this week to have them look at it. Feels like tire out of balance to me. Don't think it's the rotors. I put the wheel setups on the car myself and torqued to specs. Could it be a bad alignment that causes that? Here she is with the new wheel setup.
#8
Get a alignment use PFADT 0 toe and the only way to balance to to use roadforce equipment period. Don't listen to the BS that's its not necessary per GM service manual.
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ronniebfla (03-23-2021)
#9
Burning Brakes
You already have it figured out because the problem wasn't experienced with your old set of tires/wheels. So now you have either bad tires or bad wheels. Sometimes these are very difficult to determine which & would be easy if you could find another C6 that would be willing to swap fronts and/or rears with you. Tire shop will blame the wheels & likewise the wheel retailer. You definitely need to get a good alignment, but pretty sure that is not your problem.
Let us know what you find and hopefully it will be a simple fix.
GD
Let us know what you find and hopefully it will be a simple fix.
GD
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ronniebfla (03-23-2021)
#10
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IIRC, the factory used a washer to hold the rotor on to the hub. OEM wheels have recesses on their backsides to clear the washer. Aftermarket wheels don't necessarily have the recess and if the washer is still there, the wheel can't sit flush against the rotor, and will cause vibration. I'd check to see if the washers are there. They are not needed, so remove them if they are still there.
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ronniebfla (03-23-2021)
#12
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IIRC, the factory used a washer to hold the rotor on to the hub. OEM wheels have recesses on their backsides to clear the washer. Aftermarket wheels don't necessarily have the recess and if the washer is still there, the wheel can't sit flush against the rotor, and will cause vibration. I'd check to see if the washers are there. They are not needed, so remove them if they are still there.
#13
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No weights? That would be unusual, to say the least.
#14
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#15
I don’t know much about your problem, but the other day I was driving and I guess I never noticed it, when the steering wheel was In the center position the car went right. I had the car aligned, and the alignment was way off. Made sure they had the steering wheel centered. The car now seems to drive better.
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OK, the chances that even 1 wheel would be balanced without any weights added is pretty slim, and for all 4 I'd say 0 chance. So there are no weights taped to the barrels? If so, sounds like they didn't balance them at all. If those are the cold tire pressure measurements, the tire installer sounds incompetent. I had that happen once and got a high pressure warning from the TPMS at 38 psi (I think). What kind of rep does this tire shop have? Is there somewhere else you can take your car?
#17
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OK, the chances that even 1 wheel would be balanced without any weights added is pretty slim, and for all 4 I'd say 0 chance. So there are no weights taped to the barrels? If so, sounds like they didn't balance them at all. If those are the cold tire pressure measurements, the tire installer sounds incompetent. I had that happen once and got a high pressure warning from the TPMS at 38 psi (I think). What kind of rep does this tire shop have? Is there somewhere else you can take your car?
Last edited by Schazaam; 03-07-2021 at 08:03 PM.
#19
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All good now. The left sides were never balanced. They weren't supposed to give them to me. I walked in to see if they were done because they never call me to tell me ***** done anyways. Drives great now, and no charge. Gonna take it to another place for the alignment as he gave me a good recommendation on where too.
#20
Instructor
Hey Guys. Got a 2009 Z51 a few weeks back. It has 57k miles on it. A1 condition. Love it so far. But on some roads it likes to steer me vice me steering it. Nothing violent, but I wonder if folks behind me think I'm drunk. It has a set of Goodyear Eagle F1's on the front that need replacing. Putting on Michelin A/S 3 runflats to match the rears. Gonna have them check the alignment too. I'm assuming this is not a normal characteristic of a C6? This is my first C6 after having two C7's. The C7's had a few issues to deal with, but not this.
I am close to upgrading my sway bars and suspension if that helps or maybe someone has a simple fix. Sorry for the long reply.