Conversation w/ Engineer who developed ZL1 Steering - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

NerdWerx · 05-24-2013, 07:30 PM

I just got home from the local car show here in Southwest Michigan. It's at Lane Automotive, which if you haven't heard of is a big distributor like Summit Racing. Anyway, I had my ZL1 there and shortly before I was getting ready to leave a guy named Kirby came up and started chatting with me. Apparently he was the engineer who designed the steering system in the ZL1. He had a lot of neat information about testing the car and some features that I, personally didn't know about the steering system in the ZL1. I guess that according to each driving mode the PTM is in the steering is also completely changed. For full-on racing the steering has very little assist compared to touring mode. It makes sense but I never really read anywhere where the steering was actually tuned differently for the different PTM modes.

I asked him what he's working on now and, of course, he couldn't say. So I asked him when I would get to see what he's working on now and he said "2016". So, speculation says it *COULD* be a new Camaro. Heck, if he worked on the steering system for the ZL1, what's the chances he'd work on the 6th Gen?

Anyway, Kirby, if you're reading this I really appreciate the conversation and thank you a ton for the info. I really hope anything I said here doesn't get you busted or anything. These are, after all, just my opinions.

URBAN LEGEND · 07-13-2013, 02:15 PM

Not necessarily a new Camaro. Might be working on improvements on PTM which could show up then.

KKreme15 · 07-13-2013, 02:44 PM

Did you ask him why our power steering goes out sometimes?

zl1bro · 07-15-2013, 11:49 AM

Is there any written info on the steering changes in the various PTM modes? Curious about the changes from mode to mode. I honestly haven't been able to feel a big change mode to mode when I'm driving..

ZL1-V · 07-15-2013, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zl1bro

Is there any written info on the steering changes in the various PTM modes? Curious about the changes from mode to mode. I honestly haven't been able to feel a big change mode to mode when I'm driving..

The big change in steering wheel feeling is when the "nannies" are off completely. The wheel becomes a bit more responsive, quicker if you will. Be careful if you have never driven the car with traction control and stability control switched off.

ZEDL1 · 07-15-2013, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zl1bro

Is there any written info on the steering changes in the various PTM modes? Curious about the changes from mode to mode. I honestly haven't been able to feel a big change mode to mode when I'm driving..

One in the series of introductory videos for ZL1 owners that GM produced for us does touch upon this, but without a lot of detail, as I recall.

zl1bro · 07-15-2013, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZL1-V

The big change in steering wheel feeling is when the "nannies" are off completely. The wheel becomes a bit more responsive, quicker if you will. Be careful if you have never driven the car with traction control and stability control switched off.

I have driven in all modes but #5.. Will have to check that out and see what the steering feels like..

URBAN LEGEND · 07-15-2013, 04:56 PM

I want the heavier PTM 5 steering in PTM 3. Can tuners make this happen?

05-24-2013, 07:30 PM	#1
NerdWerx Drives: '13 ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: St. Joe, Michigan Posts: 54 View My Garage	Conversation w/ Engineer who developed ZL1 Steering I just got home from the local car show here in Southwest Michigan. It's at Lane Automotive, which if you haven't heard of is a big distributor like Summit Racing. Anyway, I had my ZL1 there and shortly before I was getting ready to leave a guy named Kirby came up and started chatting with me. Apparently he was the engineer who designed the steering system in the ZL1. He had a lot of neat information about testing the car and some features that I, personally didn't know about the steering system in the ZL1. I guess that according to each driving mode the PTM is in the steering is also completely changed. For full-on racing the steering has very little assist compared to touring mode. It makes sense but I never really read anywhere where the steering was actually tuned differently for the different PTM modes. I asked him what he's working on now and, of course, he couldn't say. So I asked him when I would get to see what he's working on now and he said "2016". So, speculation says it COULD be a new Camaro. Heck, if he worked on the steering system for the ZL1, what's the chances he'd work on the 6th Gen? Anyway, Kirby, if you're reading this I really appreciate the conversation and thank you a ton for the info. I really hope anything I said here doesn't get you busted or anything. These are, after all, just my opinions. __________________ -NerdWerx

07-13-2013, 02:15 PM	#2
URBAN LEGEND Drives: 20 X3M CP & 19 ZL1 1LE A10 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Brenham, TX Posts: 3,517	Not necessarily a new Camaro. Might be working on improvements on PTM which could show up then.

07-13-2013, 02:44 PM	#3
KKreme15 Drives: C6 Z06 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dayton, MD Posts: 1,645	Did you ask him why our power steering goes out sometimes?

07-15-2013, 11:49 AM	#4
zl1bro Drives: 2013 ZL1 M6 SIM AGM mono stripe Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Boston Posts: 453	Is there any written info on the steering changes in the various PTM modes? Curious about the changes from mode to mode. I honestly haven't been able to feel a big change mode to mode when I'm driving..

07-15-2013, 04:56 PM	#8
URBAN LEGEND Drives: 20 X3M CP & 19 ZL1 1LE A10 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Brenham, TX Posts: 3,517	I want the heavier PTM 5 steering in PTM 3. Can tuners make this happen?