G5ALIVE

lowered my base modle cobalt not too long ago, was having an issue with bump steer, so i installed some steering rack spacers..

bumpe steer is gone now but it come with a new problem,
When doing 90 degree turns it sounds like my steering gear is creaking and cracking.
Okay thats fine and livable, but when doing these hard turns something is binding.

either a 90 degree turn will do it, or when performing a wide right turn and then quickly murge one more lane to the left.

Im lowered 1.5” fromt 2” rear i belive all zzp springs/ spacers, koni shocks 11.8” links

Looking at the components, nothing at rest looks like its making contact, i have stock tires/rims so i dont think im rubbing the fenders

jdbaugh1

iTrader: (1)

What are the actual symptoms? Just sounds or can you feel something? And you have inspected for problems by putting the steering at full lock and inspecting the suspension components for something making contact or out of wack?

G5ALIVE

I tried to turn around in circles on a gravel road trying to replicate the noise, It would not.
Ill try again tmr maybe in a big parking lot, looking at the wheels at rest, nothing is making contact with anything, Sure ever-things bit closer since lowering, but I read somewhere, IF its not touching at rest its unlikely for say, your sway bar end link to hit a tie rod for example...

I do feel something, just when your making a sharp turn and you have to turn the wheel a bit more to make that corner, It'll get a little stiffer in the wheel and immediately I hear/ feel a *thud thud thud thud thud* in my wheel wells, which ever direction im turning in, the sound is more prominent in that wheel well. so I back off and it goes away.
On my uneven parking lot in the morning, Ill here a creak/ crack in my gear leaving the lot, and experience this bind making the first turn out.

I think my gear rack could be failing, which would explain the creaking and cracking but Im not feeling any lose of power when doing these turns
, IF i was on a gravel road parked, I could turn my wheel all the way left then all the way right no issue, no sounds, no problems, only occurs when in motion

G5ALIVE

Part of me thinks it could be an alignment issue...but I doubt I'm that lucky with a fix
.. My gear rack didn't creak prior to the spacers,
when the technician did an alignment, he said one side was very off, but the other side was pretty much fine. that made me concerned for a moment,
.. I should really start asking for those printouts,

Slowbalt2000

iTrader: (1)

Its worth a shot to express your concerns to the shop that did the alignment and maybe they can recheck it. While theyre in there it might be worth it to have them do an inspection to ensure everything is as it should be.

It sounds like you may be too low and the axles are binding or they are just worn out.

G5ALIVE

Well an alignment was certainly done, simply worried me that the tech said, one side was off and the other needed relatively no adjustment...

I wonder, OOTD or whatever sells like three different sized rack spacers, prehaps ZZP’s spacers were only meant for Their SS applicationsż

Zzp’s spacers were pretty big, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to try a more appropriate smaller spacers, ie the smallest one for .5-1” drop.


I should clearify my drop is actually 1inch front 2 inches rear as per zzp 2.2l spring specs

G5ALIVE

G5ALIVE

G5ALIVE

G5ALIVE

okay update: my 2nd set from OTTP is here now.. ordered the medium sized spacers


\looks like they accidentally sent me a little extra, off this order I got the mid sized spacer (round) and for some reason they sent me another smallest sized spacer (square)
am I suppose to double them up?

G5ALIVE

cujo

... disregard 'related thread' err