wheel balance and camber

[Thomas O.]

I have an o6 c6 with just over 8,000 miles. I have noticed a vibration in the steering when on new smooth blacktop. Some say camber should be checked and possibly set at minus 1? I'm hoping that a wheel balance will solve the problem. Any ideas. thanks tom

[Douglas L.]

Re: wheel balance and camber

Tom,

Check out this site - it may give you some ideas:

http://www.vbandp.com/instructions/h...ruct/align.htm

[Terry M.]

Re: wheel balance and camber

I have an o6 c6 with just over 8,000 miles. I have noticed a vibration in the steering when on new smooth blacktop. Some say camber should be checked and possibly set at minus 1? I'm hoping that a wheel balance will solve the problem. Any ideas. thanks tom

Tom,

I had a nagging on and off vibration in the rear of the 2008 Z06. It developed after several thousand miles, and was slight so I decided to ignore it. At about 15K on the tires a slight burnt rubber smell at the rear of the car lead me to find (almost 2K after I first noticed the smell) cords showing on the inner edges of the rear tires -- the how and why of that is not germane to your thread, and some of it is yet to be determined.

When installing the new rear tires today (Wednesday 9-2-09) the tech at Tire Rack showed me a crack in the internal sidewall of one of the tires. No way one could have seen that from the outside. He offered that information without knowing about the vibration. I am convinced this crack was the cause of the vibration. I am not suggesting that is your issue. I simply offer the information for your consideration.

So my suggestion is to try to get them rebalanced using a Hunter Road Force Balance machine. The GSP9700 is the latest version, but a 9600 will do as well. Of course one needs to also find someone who can operate the machine. These are complex tools, and it takes a skilled mind and body to properly use them. That is one of the reasons I drive two hours each way to Tire Rack to get my tires mounted and balanced. The folks I have met there know more about tires than anyone outside of the tire manufacturers, and probably know more than some of the tire manufacturers. Today while chatting with the rep I have dealt with (It helped that they used my car in their advertising. We got real friendly over that.) I found out they have one customer who drives ten hours each way -- from New York to South Bend, Indiana, -- to get his tires.

Here in the Midwest Discount Tires usually use Hunter Road Force Balance Machines and also have the proper tire change machines for the C6 wheels, but I understand a West Coast company by the same name is not so well equipped. Use the Hunter link below to find a Road Force Machine in your area. Then visit them and find out how much newer Corvette work they do. These wide wheels are very sensitive to balance, and the best equipment and most skilled people are necessary for proper results.

http://www.gsp9700.com/

[Patrick H.]

Re: wheel balance and camber

Tom,

I had a nagging on and off vibration in the rear of the 2008 Z06. It developed after several thousand miles, and was slight so I decided to ignore it. At about 15K on the tires a slight burnt rubber smell at the rear of the car lead me to find (almost 2K after I first noticed the smell) cords showing on the inner edges of the rear tires -- the how and why of that is not germane to your thread, and some of it is yet to be determined.

When installing the new rear tires today (Wednesday 9-2-09) the tech at Tire Rack showed me a crack in the internal sidewall of one of the tires. No way one could have seen that from the outside. He offered that information without knowing about the vibration. I am convinced this crack was the cause of the vibration. I am not suggesting that is your issue. I simply offer the information for your consideration.

So my suggestion is to try to get them rebalanced using a Hunter Road Force Balance machine. The GSP9700 is the latest version, but a 9600 will do as well. Of course one needs to also find someone who can operate the machine. These are complex tools, and it takes a skilled mind and body to properly use them. That is one of the reasons I drive two hours each way to Tire Rack to get my tires mounted and balanced. The folks I have met there know more about tires than anyone outside of the tire manufacturers, and probably know more than some of the tire manufacturers. Today while chatting with the rep I have dealt with (It helped that they used my car in their advertising. We got real friendly over that.) I found out they have one customer who drives ten hours each way -- from New York to South Bend, Indiana, -- to get his tires.

Here in the Midwest Discount Tires usually use Hunter Road Force Balance Machines and also have the proper tire change machines for the C6 wheels, but I understand a West Coast company by the same name is not so well equipped. Use the Hunter link below to find a Road Force Machine in your area. Then visit them and find out how much newer Corvette work they do. These wide wheels are very sensitive to balance, and the best equipment and most skilled people are necessary for proper results.

http://www.gsp9700.com/

Terry,

My local tire dealer has the Hunter machine, but after reading your post I think it's worth driving an hour and 15 min to the Tire Rack for my next set of tires. I don't think the local techs really know how to use it even though I insist all my tires be balanced using that machine.

Patrick

[Terry M.]

Re: wheel balance and camber

The Hunter GSP9700 can be used just like a entry level balancer, but last time I checked (about 5 years ago) the 9600 was $27K. What a waste not to know how to fully use the machine.

If you decide to go to Tire Rack call Luke Pavlick | Sales Specialist
__________________________________________________ ________

Tire Rack
7101 Vorden Parkway
South Bend, IN 46628
O: 888 428 8355 ext. 362
O: 574 287 2345 ext. 362
F: 574 236 7707
Luke@tirerack.com

Tell him I sent you. And ask if you can watch the tire techs do the tire work. He will give you the 25-cent tour too. Neat stuff there. Like i said they know their chit.

[Chuck S.]

Re: wheel balance and camber

...When installing the new rear tires today (Wednesday 9-2-09) the tech at Tire Rack showed me a crack in the internal sidewall of one of the tires. No way one could have seen that from the outside. He offered that information without knowing about the vibration. I am convinced this crack was the cause of the vibration...

Terry, you didn't say, but since vibration is usually caused by unbalance, I'm guessing you believe the crack to be the symptom of developing tread separation? In other words, at speed a slight tread separation is deforming to unbalance the tire? Tread separation can be really bad news unless it is sudden and totally complete.

[Terry M.]

Re: wheel balance and camber

I don't know what the ultimate result of the internal crack might have been. The vibration was there for quite a few miles -- maybe 8 to 10K miles. If that crack was the cause of the vibration, and I am convinced it was, I think it might not have gotten any worse. It was in the sidewall, so I am not sure it would have resulted in tread separation anyway. It was about 5 or 6-inches long, but only visible on the inside of the tire. The tires were originally mounted with the inside out (they are asymmetrical), so the had to be removed and reinstalled. Did something in that process damage it? I don't think so because my first run on those tires was the the Michigan Regional, and the tour of Milford at 140mph was smooth as silk. Or a pothole?? There have been plenty of those. Who knows? The pothole is more likely in my opinion.

I got 17K miles out of the rear tires. Some people have gotten less, others more. So I would consider the tires worn out, or near so, anyway.

Other alignment issues, some still TBD, were the ultimate demise of the rear tires. But I share your concerns about tread separation. I don't think that was about to happen in this case, but my crystal ball is often foggy now days.