Front End Loose Steering/Clunking Revisited - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

BronxRS · 07-03-2013, 10:12 PM

Hi all - on June 20 I purchased from a dealer a 2013 2LT RS vert that was built on August 1, 2012 (just under 100 miles on it from dealer to dealer delivery and the odd test drive). It now has around 400 miles on it. Generally, the car is fine and I have not experienced any "constant" front end noises. However, most notably on uneven pavement at speeds around 30-40 mph, I hear an occasional clunking (like the sound of a strut or control arm bottoming out against metal) and, more disturbingly, a very fleeting feeling of loss of steering control - best described as floating steering. This may happen over a dip or slight bump in the road. I have also experienced (not regularly or too often) a slight shimmy or wheel wobble on a hard brake. Shouldn't be happening on a vehicle with this mileage or new tires. These events are not constant but frequent enough that I'm taking it in to my dealer next Thursday July 11. I suspect it's having been on the lot for two to three months with some mileage could be related (test drives etc).

I've reviewed most threads going back to 2009 regarding the clunking/loose lumber issues experienced by several Camaro owners but haven't found one identifying a single culprit. I've read about the usual suspects (lower control arm/rubber bushings/leaky strut assembly etc). I also read somewhere that in 2012, GM began to manufacture bushings made of polyurethane rather than rubber but don't know if this is true. I know there are aftermarket poly bushings out there and don't know if they've addressed the problem. More recently, a thread on this forum mentioned a possible strut issue related to 2013 v6's but did not include a TSB number or any follow up. I've searched unsuccessfully online for any other updates/links.

A few questions:

1) Is the problem related to a specific part or parts (if so, which parts/numbers)?

2) Has a TSB related to this type of problem been issued for the 2013 v6?

3) Has anyone who experienced this problem found that replacing any factory part(s) resolved the issue? I'm asking because I intend to install Hotchkis springs soon and was going to have the bushings timed/alignment done. Now I'm wondering whether there are other parts that don't come with these springs I should consider replacing with the springs (like any bushings)? I intend to do the spring install at the dealer's but not until they have an opportunity to inspect and document the issue.

Glad to be on the forum and still love my car!

Any updated information on this issue would be appreciated. Thanks.

BronxRS · 07-08-2013, 08:52 PM

120 views and not a single reply? Hopefully that's a good omen as a couple of years ago front end clunking was a pretty significant issue.

If it's still an issue I'd appreciate some feedback before I go to my dealer on Thursday. Thanks.

Dustin503 · 07-09-2013, 12:17 AM

Good luck with the dealer... Unfortunately I've had a fairly significant clunking noise issue from about 200 miles on my brand new Camaro. Had struts replace once which fixed the issue for about another 200 miles. Took my dissatisfaction to the top with a district rep. At all points along the line I was told that it is a "normal characteristic". I'm basically stuck with it as there is nothing more GM will do. It's a very unnerving situation but unfortunately it seems that it is just something we will have to live with. If I had the money to do it mine would have been traded by now.

BronxRS · 07-10-2013, 01:06 AM

I'm not counting on the dealer to address this, and it's not a regular enough occurrence that I'm hating the car. If it gets worse - that's another story. I was hoping I'd get a better idea of the scope of the problem with the '13s from other forum members, though. I'd be shocked if the matter has resolved itself given this issue has come up in one form or another for the past 4 years. Last chance to post a link to any TSB or other link to the issue before I descend into the vacuous stares of the service techs in dealer hell

BronxRS · 07-11-2013, 09:23 PM

As expected, the dealer test drove the car, followed TSB P10197A, torqued all suspension components, and suggested I bring it in again if the issue does not resolve itself.

Interestingly, the front end [I]did[I] actually feel tighter with much less clunk/loose steering over bumps, or slight shimmy on hard braking.

I'm more concerned it would feel better after torquing...why would it not come properly torqued from the factory???

I ensured all issues were documented before I install the Hotchkis springs next week.

If anyone else has had a similar experience before and it somehow got resolved, I'd give my dealer's left nut to know. Thanks.

07-03-2013, 10:12 PM	#1
BronxRS Drives: '13 2LT RS Convertible - AGM Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Metro Vancouver BC Posts: 159 View My Garage	Front End Loose Steering/Clunking Revisited Hi all - on June 20 I purchased from a dealer a 2013 2LT RS vert that was built on August 1, 2012 (just under 100 miles on it from dealer to dealer delivery and the odd test drive). It now has around 400 miles on it. Generally, the car is fine and I have not experienced any "constant" front end noises. However, most notably on uneven pavement at speeds around 30-40 mph, I hear an occasional clunking (like the sound of a strut or control arm bottoming out against metal) and, more disturbingly, a very fleeting feeling of loss of steering control - best described as floating steering. This may happen over a dip or slight bump in the road. I have also experienced (not regularly or too often) a slight shimmy or wheel wobble on a hard brake. Shouldn't be happening on a vehicle with this mileage or new tires. These events are not constant but frequent enough that I'm taking it in to my dealer next Thursday July 11. I suspect it's having been on the lot for two to three months with some mileage could be related (test drives etc). I've reviewed most threads going back to 2009 regarding the clunking/loose lumber issues experienced by several Camaro owners but haven't found one identifying a single culprit. I've read about the usual suspects (lower control arm/rubber bushings/leaky strut assembly etc). I also read somewhere that in 2012, GM began to manufacture bushings made of polyurethane rather than rubber but don't know if this is true. I know there are aftermarket poly bushings out there and don't know if they've addressed the problem. More recently, a thread on this forum mentioned a possible strut issue related to 2013 v6's but did not include a TSB number or any follow up. I've searched unsuccessfully online for any other updates/links. A few questions: 1) Is the problem related to a specific part or parts (if so, which parts/numbers)? 2) Has a TSB related to this type of problem been issued for the 2013 v6? 3) Has anyone who experienced this problem found that replacing any factory part(s) resolved the issue? I'm asking because I intend to install Hotchkis springs soon and was going to have the bushings timed/alignment done. Now I'm wondering whether there are other parts that don't come with these springs I should consider replacing with the springs (like any bushings)? I intend to do the spring install at the dealer's but not until they have an opportunity to inspect and document the issue. Glad to be on the forum and still love my car! Any updated information on this issue would be appreciated. Thanks. Last edited by BronxRS; 07-05-2013 at 12:55 AM.

07-08-2013, 08:52 PM	#2
BronxRS Drives: '13 2LT RS Convertible - AGM Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Metro Vancouver BC Posts: 159 View My Garage	120 views and not a single reply? Hopefully that's a good omen as a couple of years ago front end clunking was a pretty significant issue. If it's still an issue I'd appreciate some feedback before I go to my dealer on Thursday. Thanks.

07-09-2013, 12:17 AM	#3
Dustin503 Drives: 2013 Camaro SS/RS Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Illinois Posts: 67	Good luck with the dealer... Unfortunately I've had a fairly significant clunking noise issue from about 200 miles on my brand new Camaro. Had struts replace once which fixed the issue for about another 200 miles. Took my dissatisfaction to the top with a district rep. At all points along the line I was told that it is a "normal characteristic". I'm basically stuck with it as there is nothing more GM will do. It's a very unnerving situation but unfortunately it seems that it is just something we will have to live with. If I had the money to do it mine would have been traded by now.

07-10-2013, 01:06 AM	#4
BronxRS Drives: '13 2LT RS Convertible - AGM Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Metro Vancouver BC Posts: 159 View My Garage	I'm not counting on the dealer to address this, and it's not a regular enough occurrence that I'm hating the car. If it gets worse - that's another story. I was hoping I'd get a better idea of the scope of the problem with the '13s from other forum members, though. I'd be shocked if the matter has resolved itself given this issue has come up in one form or another for the past 4 years. Last chance to post a link to any TSB or other link to the issue before I descend into the vacuous stares of the service techs in dealer hell

07-11-2013, 09:23 PM	#5
BronxRS Drives: '13 2LT RS Convertible - AGM Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Metro Vancouver BC Posts: 159 View My Garage	As expected, the dealer test drove the car, followed TSB P10197A, torqued all suspension components, and suggested I bring it in again if the issue does not resolve itself. Interestingly, the front end [I]did[I] actually feel tighter with much less clunk/loose steering over bumps, or slight shimmy on hard braking. I'm more concerned it would feel better after torquing...why would it not come properly torqued from the factory??? I ensured all issues were documented before I install the Hotchkis springs next week. If anyone else has had a similar experience before and it somehow got resolved, I'd give my dealer's left nut to know. Thanks.