97-05 Chev Corvette, 97-02 Chev Camaro and Pontiac Firebird Slight Pull Left or Right, Tire Wander - kw air alignment pressure ride steering suspension

The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom described in the PI.

Vehicle may exhibit a tendency to pull left or right depending on road conditions. On Pontiac Firebird WS6 package, Chevrolet Camaro SS package or Corvette specialty or "upfit" vehicles with oversized (wider) tires, the concern may be even more pronounced.

Any vehicle with low aspect ratio (ratio btwn tire height, from wheel rim to tread, & width, from sidewall to sidewall) tires are susceptible to troughing (wide tire wander). The tread foot print sits in the center of tire path in the road (especially black top). Turning the steering wheel left or right slightly may give a "scruffing" feel like rubbing up against a curb (only not as pronounced). The tires have a tendency to follow the trough in road & this is felt in the steering wheel. It is possible that this vehicle could be experiencing a NORMAL CONDITION. Riding with the customer to duplicate the concern & driving a comparably equipped vehicle over the same roads is a highly recommended. If a problem is determined to exist, check the following areas:

TIRE PRESSURE:

Tire pressure has a definite effect on handling, in addition to wear & fuel economy. Overinflation reduces the contact area & worsens the "wander" condition. An overinflated tire rides more on the "ball" of the tire while the edges are curved taking more input from the road. Underinflation gives a smoother ride, but handling & tread life are sacrificed. The sidewalls & tread will buckle, reducing the area of the road contact patch and causing a loss of traction, especially on curves. A similar concern can be felt but may have more of a "squirming" or "wiggling" feel. It is also important that all tires are at the same psi, especially the front. A 1-2 psi difference can be felt. The proper tire inflation for all tires on all F-cars is 30 psi or 210 kpa. The proper inflation is listed on the tire inflation label attached to the driver's door. TSB 00-00-90-002 contains tire inflation information for all 2001 vehicles.

ALIGNMENT:

Suspension alignment, especially toe settings, should be verified.

WEAR:

Excessively worn tires (out of alignment, age, etc) can also exaggerate the "wander" concern. Swapping tires from a known good vehicle can be a good diagnostic.

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Please follow this diagnosis process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed. If these steps do not resolve the condition, please contact GM TAC for further diagnostic assistance.

(1997 - 2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ) and (1997 - 2002 CHEVROLET CAMARO) and (1997 - 2002 PONTIAC FIREBIRD)

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