Hard to handle in the wind
- Thread starter houser
- Start date
Swordsmith
242hp/252 ft-lbs BNR EFI
I installed an underbody panel, but my steering issues had cleared up some time before I did so, right at the time when I changed wheels and tires.
Another thought: the tire dealership moved my TPMS from the stock tires to the new ones, could it be the issue is coming from somewhere in that system? I know I'm grasping at straws, but I'm trying to figure out how changing tires fixes a problem that others are fixing by turning off SC.
laborsmith
New member
Stiffer sidewalls.
I do not turn of the nannies. Also I do not turn off the AC. Now the AC has little or nothing to do with handling, but my point is the sensation (per my opinion) is not nanny related. The Sonic is a short wheelbase tall profile vehicle' when I was younger we called them bobcats. They are susceptible to crosswinds, whether from mother nature or from passing a semi. Stiffer springs and lowering the profile will have a positive effect on handling, just as a low profile (read stiffer sidewall) tires will have a positive effect on handling.
Laborsmith
I do not turn of the nannies. Also I do not turn off the AC. Now the AC has little or nothing to do with handling, but my point is the sensation (per my opinion) is not nanny related. The Sonic is a short wheelbase tall profile vehicle' when I was younger we called them bobcats. They are susceptible to crosswinds, whether from mother nature or from passing a semi. Stiffer springs and lowering the profile will have a positive effect on handling, just as a low profile (read stiffer sidewall) tires will have a positive effect on handling.
Laborsmith
houser
New member
Thats probably all true but I bought the car because of its height and ground clearance. I would have gotten the Cruze ECO but it was to close to the ground. I live in Alaska and have a rough gravel driveway. I need to make this car work the way it is. Im not trying to do special things with it. I just drive it to work. And I know that because it drives so much nicer with the nannies disabled than it does when they are not and because I assume that Chevrolet built the car to be a pleasure to drive, that the nannies are not doing their job properly. I do not believe that all Sonic drive badly. In fact from what I been reading, most drive very well. Just not mine. I believe it has a defect in its control module and I intend to find and fix it so my Sonic will drive as nicely as it was originally engineered to with all the nannies intact and turned on.
@ 70 - 80 MPH??
Being from Florida I would expect you would know what a torrential downpour is. AND that you have minimal visibility and HUGE risks of Hydroplaning. Yes, 70 - 80 MPH is stupid in Torrential Downpours.
laborsmith
New member
Houser, I suspect you are correct; something is not right. But once those are checked and if needed re-calibrated, if you are willing to change wheel size and use a lower profile tire you will also feel an improvement.
Some what more expensive but definitely a resolution if running an M32 variant transmission is to install a limited slip differential. I used the WaveTrac and am quite happy with it. It is an improved version of the Quaife and is made in the USA. Considering where you live I would think an lsd would be a first consideration.
Laborsmith
Some what more expensive but definitely a resolution if running an M32 variant transmission is to install a limited slip differential. I used the WaveTrac and am quite happy with it. It is an improved version of the Quaife and is made in the USA. Considering where you live I would think an lsd would be a first consideration.
Laborsmith
Last edited:
SouthFLSonic
Active member
Being from Florida I would expect you would know what a torrential downpour is. AND that you have minimal visibility and HUGE risks of Hydroplaning. Yes, 70 - 80 MPH is stupid in Torrential Downpours.
Yes I know what MY definition of a torrential downpour is but each person may have a different idea as to what is torrential to them. I have been in torrential rain storms but no one on the road to spray my windhsield with water from the road and been very comfortable doing 70-75. I also have been in a very minor rain and not been able to go more than 35 due to the amount of road spray from semis.
My visibility isn't based just on the rain from the sky but spray from roads, traffic on road, if the road is curvy or straight, construction, Etc.....
chivalryder
New member
Being from Florida I would expect you would know what a torrential downpour is. AND that you have minimal visibility and HUGE risks of Hydroplaning. Yes, 70 - 80 MPH is stupid in Torrential Downpours.
Being from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, I'm sure my definition of a torrential downpour is different from yours. We don't get hurricanes here.
I have only once in my life experienced enough precipitation falling to not allow any visibility out the windshield to make highway speed driving unsafe. I wasn't even driving at the time.
My comment from before: everyone else was doing the same speed. It would have been more dangerous for me to slow down.
houser
New member
I think tis one wins
I think this one wins.
I bit the bullet and went to alignment shop. Paid the $180 parts and labor to get a real alignment and now I think its fixed. When Im doing 65 in the rain and ruts and I turn the Stabilitrack back on It actually firms up the steering and smoothes out the ride. The steering feels less jerky. I think that the OnStar is linked to the Stabilitrack but that it luckily was not the problem. I really would not have known what to do about that. Now I have my hands free calling back
I had already had my alignment checked at the dealership and was told it was OK. And technically it was within scecs. per each wheel. But The total toe and camber were out of range. they had to put in some different strut bolts to get things moved around enough to get mid range readings.
THis isn't the firs time I have had to have a new car realigned out of pocket. I should have just taken it in first thing.
Thanks for all the feed backs. looks like this one goes to
( Italianjoe1 )
I think this one wins.
I bit the bullet and went to alignment shop. Paid the $180 parts and labor to get a real alignment and now I think its fixed. When Im doing 65 in the rain and ruts and I turn the Stabilitrack back on It actually firms up the steering and smoothes out the ride. The steering feels less jerky. I think that the OnStar is linked to the Stabilitrack but that it luckily was not the problem. I really would not have known what to do about that. Now I have my hands free calling back
I had already had my alignment checked at the dealership and was told it was OK. And technically it was within scecs. per each wheel. But The total toe and camber were out of range. they had to put in some different strut bolts to get things moved around enough to get mid range readings.
THis isn't the firs time I have had to have a new car realigned out of pocket. I should have just taken it in first thing.
Thanks for all the feed backs. looks like this one goes to
( Italianjoe1 )
sx sonic
New member
Italianjoe1
Member
Glad I could help. I'm the tech they send all the problem/special case alignments to at my shop, so I've seen some odd issues.
instead of buying the one from the dealer I made my own. Helped out with cooler coolant temps on the highway with stock tune and a/c efficiency. Another plus is gas mileage and less road noise. Coated maybe 30 dollars in corrugated plastic and aluminum bracing. Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
SouthFLSonic
Active member
I think he was talking about your previous post about the belly pan you made.
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