Z06Vette.com - Corvette Z06 Forum - How much steering wheel play is normal? Anyone wear their steering rack?

Cobra4B · 03-01-2006, 08:07 PM

Just curious what's normal free play in a C5... When I'm parked with the car on I can see the front wheel/tire move with almost the slightest movement of the steering wheel... if I jiggle/rotate it back and forth very quickly only moving my hands (at 9 and 3) maybe 1/4" if that makes sense.

With the car off but the colum unlocked I can jiggle/rotate the wheel a little more before I see movement in the wheel/tire... when going down the highway at 70 I can do it too and the car will wiggle a little but otherwise stay traight.

I have new VB&P front and rear rod ends that have been on since last spring w/ only one track event on them. I know my front hubs/bearings have a little play in them and I'm chaniging those.

My concern is that the steering rack might have some free play in it. The car has a very small dead spot right in the center fo the steering, but I keep hearing this is common with the C5's. I'm just worried that I'm not getting the full performance out of the car.

The thing is that the car has 55k on it with 6 hpde weekends and about 10 auto-xes... I know there's people with far more use on their cars and I've never heard anything about steering rack problems.

Should the car respond to the slightest movement of the steering wheel? Or am I expecting too much?

Oh and the steering shaft is tightened and has no play in it.

Thanks,
Brian

Cobra4B · 03-02-2006, 06:58 AM

ttt, has anyone ever had wear/play issues with the steering rack?

Olitho · 03-02-2006, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobra4B

ttt, has anyone ever had wear/play issues with the steering rack?

Not me. My car is an 04 and still feels fine as far as I can tell....

LoneRegister · 03-02-2006, 09:25 AM

I don't think you have wear issues - but I have not seen your car. One of the reasons I picked up the GT3 was that I felt the steering on the Z06 was "sloppy" and not as tight as it should be. I felt like 2" to the left or right did not generate the turn in that I wanted. Perhaps a bit of Nascar heritage where a full wheel turn generates a gentle turn?

OutlawDon · 03-02-2006, 09:39 AM

My 01 Z also has some play and a slopper on center feel to it. The alignment on it is not up to spec I admit, but I feel like the steering rack is a little worn out and plan on taking it to the dealership in a few weeks. That's actually my number pet peeve with the car right now. I drove an 01 Porsche Turbo a few weeks back and the steering was so much tighter and linear. I actually get a little worried driving sometimes cause my steering response is prety spongy and not very responsive. My car is mostly stock lowered on stock bolts with BF Goodrich KDW II 255/40/17 fronts and 295/35/18 rears with around 35K miles and no racing events...just a daily driver.

LoneRegister · 03-02-2006, 09:42 AM

Compared to the Porsche, steering tightness on the Z06 is like a $2 hooker. It's just no comparison. The porsche is worlds tighter. What you really want to worry about I think (and others chime in here) is when you take the front off the ground, is there play in the front wheels. I.e. does it freely rock left and right without the steering wheel turning. It'll feel clunky and loose kinda. I am not an expert, so if you think there is a problem, definately have it checked out.

mgarfias · 03-02-2006, 09:47 AM

I want the car to twitch every time my heart beats as I go down the road. The bushings + alignment helped, but it still has that dead spot. I need to track it down and figure it out.

Oh, it didn't have it when new and and seems to be worse than yours.

Cobra4B · 03-02-2006, 09:59 AM

^ Well my next mods are VB&P poly bushings, new front hub/bearings, new allignmennt w/ corner-weighting, and new front tires on my street wheels. We'll see what happens.

I'm also going to gank my buddies '04 to see if it's similar/different. Mike if you're reading this I'm taking your car

Subdriver · 03-02-2006, 02:47 PM

Brian,
Your steering shaft union bolt might be a little loose. Bring it to my brother-in-laws garage this weekend and we can gronk (that's a technical term) on it.

mgarfias · 03-02-2006, 03:11 PM

Brad

He said: Oh and the steering shaft is tightened and has no play in it.

Cobra4B · 03-02-2006, 03:29 PM

I'm all for gronking on it... I'll give your a ring

Subdriver · 03-02-2006, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgarfias

Brad

He said: Oh and the steering shaft is tightened and has no play in it.

Since he also said that "if I jiggle/rotate it back and forth very quickly only moving my hands (at 9 and 3) maybe 1/4" if that makes sense," I'm guessing he is wrong on the steering shaft. Since it is an easy thing to tighten it up, it is a good place to start.

I've found that after disconnecting the steering shaft for any reason, it can feel tight on the bolt/coupling, but if there is play in the steering wheel as Brian describes, that the coupling really isn't tight. That's happened to me twice now after having it disconnected.

mgarfias · 03-02-2006, 06:23 PM

Bleah.

I've tightened mine up to be sure. No change. Steering feels like my old IROC with the stupid recirculating ball setup. At least that thing had fast steering tho.

**RC45** · 03-02-2006, 07:07 PM

Is the Magnasteer system part of the problem?

Subdriver · 03-02-2006, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgarfias

Bleah.

I've tightened mine up to be sure. No change. Steering feels like my old IROC with the stupid recirculating ball setup. At least that thing had fast steering tho.

Brian's going to come over this weekend so I'll be able to tell if the feel is the same problem I had each time my steering shaft was disconnected. Hopefully it will be an easy fix for him.