Front wheels tracking all over the road, solution?
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 878
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From: Lincoln, Nebraska
Front wheels tracking all over the road, solution? I've honestly had this problem with about every F-body i've owned. Whether it be the stock tires, or wider aftermarket ones. My dad's Corvette has 275's on the front and it doesn't track AT ALL. Is this a suspension issue, a tire issue, or what? I'd be willing to pay top dollar for whatever I'd need to do to fix this. There is nothing more annoying than fighting the steering wheel to go straight.
I'm running 315 out front and I hardly get any tram-lining (only on real rutted roads).
I'd first make sure your front suspension is tight and no worn out bushings/ball joints. Jack up the front and try and wiggle around each wheel. There should be absolutely NO play at all in any direction. Sometimes it's better to listen for movement as you won't even be able to feel it.
Get a good alignment. Not a Les Schwab or Pep Boys but go to an actual alignment shop. A proper alignment will do wonders.
Also, check your tires. I'm running 315's all around so I can rotate tires to make sure they're wearing evenly. Bad wear can also mean a bad alignment.
I'd first make sure your front suspension is tight and no worn out bushings/ball joints. Jack up the front and try and wiggle around each wheel. There should be absolutely NO play at all in any direction. Sometimes it's better to listen for movement as you won't even be able to feel it.
Get a good alignment. Not a Les Schwab or Pep Boys but go to an actual alignment shop. A proper alignment will do wonders.
Also, check your tires. I'm running 315's all around so I can rotate tires to make sure they're wearing evenly. Bad wear can also mean a bad alignment.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 878
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From: Lincoln, Nebraska
Ah, that's what it's called. I never knew what word to use. Thanks. The car has a new bmr sway bar and everything looked good to me, but i'll have to give it a closer look. Not sure if a bad shock might do it, but my car has Koni Sa's up front and the front end bounces pretty good, which probably means one of my shocks is broken.
as maniac said, probably just need a proper alignment. if I recall a little bit of toe out on these cars does wonders and well as as much caster as you can get, but someone correct me if I am wrong. I have 295s on the front of my car and it wanders too on rutty roads, I just have stock alignment specs and plan to redo it in the spring to a more performance oriented spec
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 878
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From: Lincoln, Nebraska
They were on the car when I bought them. I think the first step is just to get new tires, and go from there.
Which nitto's do you have? I don't really need a drag racing tire, an all season or summer tire would be fine for me.
Which nitto's do you have? I don't really need a drag racing tire, an all season or summer tire would be fine for me.
Check the date on them, they might feel rock hard also. I cant remember how to check the date but its on the numbers on the side, google has the answer for thathaha.
I used to have the 555's. Great tire and I've read good things about the new 555 also.
I used to have the 555's. Great tire and I've read good things about the new 555 also.
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Address your suspension issues and alignment before you replace tires, if your alignment is shot all you will do is wear those new tires and once they get a wear pattern going you won't be happy. Check all front bushings and check your tie rods. My car has wandering also and it vibrates at around 40 and up, but I have worn front suspension and The wear on my front tires is different from each position. Thankfully my car is not my DD and sits in the garage. Pain in the *** though.
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 878
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From: Lincoln, Nebraska
Address your suspension issues and alignment before you replace tires, if your alignment is shot all you will do is wear those new tires and once they get a wear pattern going you won't be happy. Check all front bushings and check your tie rods. My car has wandering also and it vibrates at around 40 and up, but I have worn front suspension and The wear on my front tires is different from each position. Thankfully my car is not my DD and sits in the garage. Pain in the *** though.
What tire pressure are you running? If it's on the low side, you can raise it up and that will help too. A 5psi swing in air pressure on my front tires makes a huge difference in tramling.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,798
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From: St.Charles MO
That could be part of the problem. For some reason Ive found that there is often a "sweet spot" for our tires to be at, too low or too high will cause tramlining. 40psi is way too high unless you are at a road race/auto-x event and your tires have soft side walls. 30psi is recommend tire pressure for these cars (check the drivers side door jab by the code sticker). Try adjusting tire pressure around there and report back.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 878
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From: Lincoln, Nebraska
I will check that. Thanks.
Something else that has been bothering me. In the rear end, I'm getting a subtle clunking sound. I already had some clunking that I eliminated by adjusting the hatch release and stops.
But this sounds like it is coming from the drivetrain, possibly the rear end. I hear it mainly when I'm going from reverse to forwards, or over bumps in the road too. When I shake the rear wheels from side to side, I can simulate the clunking sound. There isn't supposed to be any play is there? I can hear/feel the clunk as I move the wheels back and forth. Thoughts?
Something else that has been bothering me. In the rear end, I'm getting a subtle clunking sound. I already had some clunking that I eliminated by adjusting the hatch release and stops.
But this sounds like it is coming from the drivetrain, possibly the rear end. I hear it mainly when I'm going from reverse to forwards, or over bumps in the road too. When I shake the rear wheels from side to side, I can simulate the clunking sound. There isn't supposed to be any play is there? I can hear/feel the clunk as I move the wheels back and forth. Thoughts?
I will check that. Thanks.
Something else that has been bothering me. In the rear end, I'm getting a subtle clunking sound. I already had some clunking that I eliminated by adjusting the hatch release and stops.
But this sounds like it is coming from the drivetrain, possibly the rear end. I hear it mainly when I'm going from reverse to forwards, or over bumps in the road too. When I shake the rear wheels from side to side, I can simulate the clunking sound. There isn't supposed to be any play is there? I can hear/feel the clunk as I move the wheels back and forth. Thoughts?
Something else that has been bothering me. In the rear end, I'm getting a subtle clunking sound. I already had some clunking that I eliminated by adjusting the hatch release and stops.
But this sounds like it is coming from the drivetrain, possibly the rear end. I hear it mainly when I'm going from reverse to forwards, or over bumps in the road too. When I shake the rear wheels from side to side, I can simulate the clunking sound. There isn't supposed to be any play is there? I can hear/feel the clunk as I move the wheels back and forth. Thoughts?
I'm gonna comment about the old tires thing. I don't think the tires on my car were super old when I got them, but the car did track all over the place. On some of the rougher back roads it was all I could do not to hit someone driving in the other lane a few times. It could get downright scary. The previous owner said that he had gotten the car aligned a few times and I believe him. But the front tires had irregular wear patterns. I lived with it. Then I bought lowering springs, shocks, rims and tires. Swapped all of the stuff and the tracking is almost completely gone. I still need to get it aligned because it has crazy negative camber (I've only driven it a few dozen miles since then) but my guess is that everything will be in spec except the camber.
The tires were some kind of BF Goodrich in the factory size. Complete pieces of **** IMO.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 878
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln, Nebraska
^^Thanks for chiming in.
For starters, I did what JD recommended, lowered the psi down to about 30 and the tracking is WAY worse. I'm really thinking it's just the tires.
For starters, I did what JD recommended, lowered the psi down to about 30 and the tracking is WAY worse. I'm really thinking it's just the tires.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 878
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln, Nebraska
Just looked at the tires. They were made in 2001 (Kumhos as well). LOL. I think I found the issue. And I'm not driving on them anymore until I get new ones...I didn't realize they were that old.
I also fixed the clunking sound (well, most of it anyway). The poly tranny mounts were bigger than OEM causing the tranny crossmember to bang the bottom of the floor/exhaust.
I still have a whistling sound coming from the rear when I get on it past 4k RPMS. exhaust shop says there are no leaks....so no idea there.
Last edited by slikrider20; Nov 15, 2016 at 08:53 PM.