Need Help Quick!!!! GM Service waiting....

[Bass482]

If anyone can help me ASAP that would be totally cool of you!

I'm having some sort of problem with my car. Every time I turn my wheel all the way to the right and back up I hear a loud crack. The car seems to wander more and the steering wheel vibrates.

The tech told me that he can't find anything wrong with the steering, and that My larger wheels are making it wander and pull more because the whole steering rack and suspension is different on the v8 cars.

I told him that I have the Y87 performance package that gives me the same ratio steering as the v8 cars, but its still the same actual rack right?

I also have the same sway bar that's in the v8 right?

So, the only thing different with my front end should be the springs and shocks? Is this correct?

Could it be a strut mount is broken? or something of this sort?

The tech said he was going to try it again but thinks that its because the tires are too big for v6's. I said this was [img]graemlins/bs.gif[/img]

Please someone help!!! He's going to call me back soon...I want to have some more information to throw back at him.

[Dojo2000]

The bigger/wider tires will make it wander more. How much bigger are your wheels? I'm almost positive its the whole rack that gives it a different ratio, not just some gears in the rack. Are your tires scraping the wheel well? One could be catching the plastic and the crack could be when it snaps back into place My car is lowered ~1.5" with 235/55 16" tires and they tend to rub the plastic wheel well every so often.
http://tech.firebirdv6.com/y87.html
Different sway bar is not part of the Y87 package. It could be something with the suspension, and he should have checked that instead of arguing with you about your tires.

[Bass482]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dojo2000:
The bigger/wider tires will make it wander more. How much bigger are your wheels? .<hr></blockquote>

My I'm running on Firehawk rims with 275/40/17 tires. I'm absolutely positive they are not rubbing.

I drove my mothers 01 SS to work today, and It doesn't wander nearly as much as my car did.

HELP!!

[Dojo2000]

I'm guessing you got an alignment when you put the new wheels on so that probably isn't it.
What size tires are on the SS? The wider the tire = the more tire contacts the ground = the car wanders more. The Y87 package gives you the same steering rack as the V8s. Not that it matters, but the V6 wasn't designed for 17", for example, you should have gotten a jounce bumper spacer to keep the rear tires from rubbing the wheel well when the axle hits the jounce bumper. Like I said that shouldn't matter too much cause I've never heard of too many problems with 17"s, especially not that "loud crack". Wish I could help you more.

Have they found anything yet, its been a while?

[ September 26, 2002: Message edited by: Dojo2000 ]</p>

[Guardsman]

Bass, you've got the same size wheels and tires that the SSs come with from SLP. The only issue I know of with those is possible rubbing when you hit big bumps, and SLP sells bumper spacers for that...so, no, your tires are not an issue.
The steering rack is the same thing that the V8s have, I believe that the stock V6 rack and the V8 rack are the same, just with different gears. The only I can think of with the steering that wider tired could possible cause is overheating of the power steering pump, and that isn't an issue here.
My suggestion is to have a friend help you check the car out. Turn the wheel all the way to the right, and have them check inside for any contact anywhere. Have them check everything in there, because sometimes really goofy, seemingly unrelated things could cause the problem.

[Bass482]

Thanks for your reply's guys!

I have the jounce bump space that SLP puts on the SS/Firehawk, but that only goes on the rear of the vehicle. The front stays the same so it shouldn't effect it.

I did have an alignment done when I put on the wheels...

So, I talked to the tech again...He said he found the where cracking noise is coming from. Apparently the lower control arm bolts on both sides in the front were extrememly loose and the arm was riding back and forth in the hole.

He said he tightened it back up and thinks that the noise is gone. But he keeps insisting that it is the larger wheels that did it and won't cover it under warranty.

I've never touched those bolts before, and I bought the car brand new... Are these something that is touched when you align the front tires?

Could it be that the shop I had align my front end screwed up and forgot to tighten these bolts all the way?

The tech is going to check the alignment today and see if there is any other damamge....but I'll have to pay for it all... :mad:

Any other ideas?

[ September 27, 2002: Message edited by: Bass482 ]</p>

[Guardsman]

The guy is full of [img]graemlins/bs.gif[/img] . Yes, the guys who did your alignment may have left the bolts loose. Our alignment isn't done with shims like the old cars, the lower control arm position is adjustable by loosening a couple of bolts and sliding the arm.
So, the bolts being loose have nothing to do with your wheels. As a matter of fact, get the manager there, and ask them both if SS's or WS6s have the same problem (bolts coming loose), since they use the same diameter wheel and same exact size tire?
Glad you found the main problem though, and no major damage was done.

[Bass482]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Guardsman:
So, the bolts being loose have nothing to do with your wheels. As a matter of fact, get the manager there, and ask them both if SS's or WS6s have the same problem (bolts coming loose), since they use the same diameter wheel and same exact size tire?
<hr></blockquote>

I've been telling this guy that, but he keeps saying that it doesn't come on the car, so the car isn't designed for it and the front end is totally different. (which is BS!)

He says its "too much rubber" that is putting all that extra stress on the front end.

[FirebirdGT]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Bass482:


I've been telling this guy that, but he keeps saying that it doesn't come on the car, so the car isn't designed for it and the front end is totally different. (which is BS!)

He says its "too much rubber" that is putting all that extra stress on the front end.<hr></blockquote>


Tell him to go show you on the Parts Dept computer what parts are different between a V6 and V8 front end! Only the shocks, springs and sway bar! With RPO code Y87 you have the V8 steering rack. He's full of [img]graemlins/bs.gif[/img]