Joined
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18,694 Posts
There are so many things to like about the C7 steering system improvements. Love that the steering rack is bolted to the chassis and that the steering system is over 500% stiffer. "Electromechanical steering" is what the GM engineers call the new electrically controlled, worm-gear rack and pinion system. As you know the new system replaces the previous hydraulically controlled steering. According to Jim Mero, GM "hotshoe" (7:19 seconds for the ZR1 to lap the Nurburgring video), he was initially opposed to the new system when he first heard that the C7 would have it, but after driving it, he says it is a huge improvement in steering precision and providing driver feedback through the steering wheel. He noted that whereas the previous system had to use one valve to control both adding steering input and then unwinding it while exiting a corner, the new electromechanical system has allowed GM engineers to separately, and to within less than 1% adjustments, control input versus unwinding efforts and feel. He added that steering system engineers have spent the last six months testing and minutely adjusting the steering inputs and feel for each of the five different modes controlled by the driver mode selector, and additionally fine tuning the steering inputs within each mode at different speeds.
And if that isn't enough improvement, the turning radius for the C7 is two feet shorter. Finally, the steering wheel is smaller than any other Corvette wheel before and unique to the C7.
And if that isn't enough improvement, the turning radius for the C7 is two feet shorter. Finally, the steering wheel is smaller than any other Corvette wheel before and unique to the C7.
