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Car Feels likes its on rails....and not in a good way

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Old 10-19-2012, 06:53 AM
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Default Car Feels likes its on rails....and not in a good way

driving my car on an uneven road has gotten almost scary. Its got great handling, responds very well and hugs corners but the minute i get it on a random shitty road it pulls like crazy to one or the other side..depending on which direction the road slants

its a 1998 camaro Z28
suspension mods include:
Koni/BMR package
Kenny Brown Subframe connecters <---Im thinking this might be the culprit
tower strut brace

wheels and tires are 17/9.5 TT2's with 275/35/17 tires

is this normal?
Old 10-19-2012, 06:59 AM
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Did you just get the tires?
Old 10-19-2012, 07:19 AM
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no its had several sets over the years and its always done this
Old 10-19-2012, 08:23 AM
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Are there ruts in the road that the wide tires are tracking in?
Old 10-19-2012, 09:04 AM
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Originally Posted by OpiumCrypt
driving my car on an uneven road has gotten almost scary. Its got great handling, responds very well and hugs corners but the minute i get it on a random shitty road it pulls like crazy to one or the other side..depending on which direction the road slants

its a 1998 camaro Z28
suspension mods include:
Koni/BMR package
Kenny Brown Subframe connecters <---Im thinking this might be the culprit
tower strut brace

wheels and tires are 17/9.5 TT2's with 275/35/17 tires

is this normal?
Some people call it railroading. It's pretty common with wide tires that the Camaros and Firebirds came with from the factory. However, I would like to see your alignment specs, it could be hidden in there. Also, those aren't the correct size tires for the wheel on these cars. It should be a 40-series tire.

So is it common? Yes, unfortunately these cars are notorious for this railroading feature where they try to follow grooves and imperfections in the road. Taking a look at the alignment will be able to tell a lot more.

- Kevin
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Old 10-19-2012, 03:04 PM
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Also known as tramlining...
Old 10-19-2012, 04:08 PM
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My car did it when it was out of alignment and had shitty tires. Got it aligned and got a set of Nitto 555s (same size, 275/40R17) and it is much better.
Old 10-19-2012, 10:28 PM
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My car does it, but I do have some negative camber, so I'm assuming that is why
Old 10-21-2012, 06:53 AM
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I run 315s in my rear and 275s up front. In these newer areas of town where the roads are new I don't feel it at all. There is one particular road on the older side of town that it does it to me real bad. Very common problem but like BMR said, check your alignment specs because some toe out or in will definitely help pull it.

Wouldn't hurt to check your tie rods either. If there going out, the wheel will definitely push or pull wherever the road tells it to.
Old 10-22-2012, 01:48 PM
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A good alignment shop...and there are not many this day in age, should be able to adjust the alignment according to the customer's feedback. Most shops have a green is good, red is bad policy and don't even realize what they're doing and what it affects.
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Old 10-22-2012, 03:43 PM
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I'll third BMRs feedback. My car did it all the time with 275s; one of the side effects of an aggressive alignment with a ~10" wide tire on the front.
Old 10-24-2012, 06:12 PM
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My camaro did this with low profile tires until I put some michelin pilot 245 zr16's and all that railroading went away. That is on my stock 16 inch wheels.
Old 10-24-2012, 06:32 PM
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The rear of my car use to do it it was the rear control arm bushing you could get that checked.
Old 10-26-2012, 04:36 PM
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Thanks guys, appreciate all the feedback. Ill have to run it to a local shop around here and see what they think as far as maybe a good alignment is concerned. Hopefully i dont need new wheels/tires..but if i do i guess thats all the reason i need to finally get a set of Iforged Aero's and nt555's
Old 10-28-2012, 09:38 PM
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I've had 3 fbodies, and they all pulled around wildly on messy roads, but the 95 V6 I had wasn't that bad because it was all stock with fat sidewall 16" tires.



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