"96 CE Following ruts badly on highway, has 80K on odometer, whats the fix?

**lone73** · 10-28-03, 09:25 PM

Sometimes the steering is downright scary. I jacked it up today and wiggled the wheels back and forth and couldn't see any slop anywhere. I did notice the upper ball joint grease cup was pulled away from the A-arm on the inside area and it was dry. I tried to lift up on the tire and get the strain off the upper joint- wiggled the top of tire, still no slop that I could find in the ball joint.

Whats the first thing that generally wears out in this setup. I want to bring it back to normal. It didn't use to do this.

And yes I did have the alignment checked, tire pressure is ok...

Whaddya think?

Thanks

David

Chick · 10-28-03, 09:46 PM

If they checked the alignment they would of checked the front end and noticed there was something wrong????

You need the front end looked at. I hope it's not that bad.

switch · 10-28-03, 11:24 PM

Sounds like you need to take it somewhere else if they won't get it right. I always stand close enough to see the readouts and have called them on it when they try to let something slide.
Also, did they check the alignment on all four wheels?

Best of luck

Gordon
http://witchhunter performance

**Jman** · 10-29-03, 08:19 AM

I feel like Dr. Phil as I just posted a similar post on another thread. But mine does it too and I've got alignment and tires all square. I do have a little wear on the control arm bushings but that won't cause what you are describing. I just attribute it to the large low profile tires and the sensitive steering. As I commented on the ZF question - I don't think you have anything to worry about.

78SilvAnniv · 10-29-03, 09:08 AM

My C3 isn't as technologically advanced as your C4 but if I was on a rutty hwy the ruts would pull me all over the road. Driving a rutty hwy in the rain a few times (Pacific North West) I was forced to slow my speed and keep a white-knuckle grip of both hands on the wheel.
I think the vehicles behind me thought I was under the influence of something!

I would suggest driving your vette on a known smooth road and then driving the rutty section of road where you are experiencing the problem and then compare between the two. Could it be that you are experiencing this problem because you are driving a different hwy or the road department or big rigs have made changes to the road?
Heidi

**-=Jeff=-** · 10-29-03, 09:17 AM

Well,
My 89 was feeling loose on the road, but the alignment was good. I found that all of my Ball Joint Boots were ripped, btu the joints were good.

I also found the Spring was cracking. I replaced the spring and the ujoints at the same time, it is much better now. I still need to replace the tie rod ends, which has a little bit of play, but will do that next year and get it aligned again.

Also I know GM chaged to the 8.5" wide front wheel to help with this problem that was there on the Z07 cars or those with the 9.5" on all corners

**vee93** · 10-29-03, 09:11 PM

Wheelhop? Something's off with your suspension or steering linkage-or both. Check your suspension for loose parts.

The cracked spring could be the culprit along with the ball joint cup. Ball joints lacking lubrication will cause wander.

How's the stabilizer bar? Loose?

Also, what size tires are you running? To keep a long story short-My '93 wears BF Goodrich g-Force T/A KDW 285/40ZR/17s front and back after some thieving sack-o-sh** stole my 31/35ZR/17s, 17 X 11 wheels and rear wheel flares from a resto- shop. Those biguns up front took some getting used to after I rounded a rutted freeway dog leg going a wee bit too fast.

Despite the literature and ASR, I do not drive the Vette in the rain.

**jsinga** · 10-30-03, 02:18 PM

When a C4 starts getting bad on ruted roads look at the wheel bearings tierod ends and tires. The only to really check the wheel bearings is with a dial indicator. If the end play is over .006 (as I remember, look at the shop manual) it will be all over the road. 80k miles is about how long it takes to wear them out. Easy to do on the front, an Saturday affair on the back, and do the u-joints at the same time while you have it apart.
I got the cheapest bearings I could find at Pep Boy's and they have stayed tight and have almost 100k road miles on them.

JS

**Don&Kelly** · 10-30-03, 03:21 PM

My C4 did the same thing and I got a new set of tires & a front & rear alienment at a good alienment shop (and no they are not all the same) ... it fixed my problem right up & It didn't happen again ... good luck

**jester** · 10-31-03, 07:25 AM

I had the problem too. I replaced the tires and shocks and the problem went away.

**lone73** · 10-31-03, 03:20 PM

My shocks are the dial-a-matic ride control kind. I had heard from another source that they might contribute to this problem.

I also heard they were expensive to replace. What's the best route to take here? What brand is best for the money? Should I rebuild them? Anybody had any experience with these?

thanks

dr

87NassauBlue · 11-04-03, 01:23 AM

Have you had a four wheel alignment done recently? If you are new to c4's you might be noticing a characteristic of the car. With those big tires, it happens sometimes. Both of my c4's did this. It really made me nervous at first. I got used to it and learned to trust the cars. I was able to use this "feature" as a positive in my vette driving. It hasn't bothered me since.