Chevrolet Camaro 2010-2015: Suspension Issues Diagnostic Guide

Is your Camaro making some strange noises over bumps, or in corners? Have you lost that razor sharp modern handling you enjoyed right off the showroom floor? Read on and maybe you can pinpoint the problem in order to fix it yourself.

By Jeffrey Smith - March 4, 2016

This article applies to the Chevy Camaro (2010-2015).

The 5th gen Camaro is one awesome car to own and drive, but like just about any car on the road, there will be issues related to that particular model. Any noise coming from the suspension can be particularly troubling and difficult to track down. For any new noise or feeling that just isn't the norm, you should always give it your due diligence to try to learn what the cause is. Don't ignore it, as it could be the start of a bigger, more expensive issue. Some issues are normal, some are not normal but aren't cause for concern either, and some should be fixed ASAP. For the Camaro, one of the most common complaints is a front end clunking noise when the car is driven slowly over bumps or pot holes. This was a really annoying problem that perplexed owners, service writers, and GM alike. You can take your Camaro into a professional to do a diagnostic for you, but why spend the cash when you can learn to do it yourself with this guide as great start?

Chevrolet Camaro 2010-2015: Suspension Issues Diagnostic Guide

Materials Needed

  • Basic tools (sockets, ratchet, wrenches)
  • Impact gun
  • Torque wrench
  • Hydraulic floor jack
  • Jack stands

Step 1 – Check your front end, steering nuts and bolts

Loose bolts can cause noises and poor handling.

Probably the most common complaint among 5th gen Camaro owners is a mild to loud clunking noise from the front end as the car is traveling over uneven pavement. This problem was widespread and absolutely commonplace with the 2010 model year in particular. GM claimed that many new, unsold cars on the lot did the same thing, so it was normal and owners had to learn to live with it. If you are suffering with this issue, there are steps to take to resolve it.

  • Inspect your front upper spring insulator. If it is black rubber, these were replaced by GM for beige stamped metal and urethane. Replace yours with the updated part.
  • Do NOT lift your Camaro at this time. Keep all the weight on the wheels.
  • Pop the hood and remove the strut retaining nut and plate. (You need an impact gun for this, and you may need a pretty strong one.)
  • Put that gun on the strut assembly nut and wrench it hard, fast and strong.
  • Replace the plate as well as the retaining nut, and use the same gun to wrench the nut as tightly as possible.
  • Use the air gun on the strut clevis bolts as well as the endlink nuts.
  • For the rest of these parts, use a wrench to get them very tight, but don't use that air gun.
  • Tighten the three ball joint nuts, radius arm nut, and steering rack bolts.
  • Old rubber isolator (right) versus new design urethane and metal (left)
    Figure 1. Old rubber isolator (right) versus new design urethane and metal (left).
  • Top of strut showing retaining nut and plate
    Figure 2. Top of strut showing retaining nut and plate.

Step 2 – Check the sway bar mounting bolts

Loose sway bars can cause popping noises as well, but not limited to the front end.

Check the mounting bolts for the sway bars front and rear. Re-torque them to spec and the popping noise should go away. The brackets holding the bar to the chassis should be at 22 ft-lbs, while the end links need to be tightened to 33 ft-lbs.

Make sure that your sway bar mounting bolts and end links are properly torqued
Figure 3. Make sure that your sway bar mounting bolts and end links are properly torqued.

Do you have more of a creaking noise followed by a loud banging noise?

Step 3 – Check your ball joints

If your ball joints are going bad, they will creak and then pop into place with a loud bang.

The ball joints should not have much play in them at all when you are checking them over. If they do, then they are likely bad and need to be replaced. Unfortunately, the ball joints are not replaceable, but the two separate control arms are not overly expensive, and include new ball joints and bushings in the ends.

Check your ball joints and replace if you find any play in them
Figure 4. Each control arm has a ball joint at the end (white arrows) check both for play, as well as the bushings at the other end.

(Related Article - How to Replace Ball Joints - LS1Tech.com)

If your noises is more of a thumping or knocking and your car drifts from a straight line, it may be a steering rack issue.

Step 4 – Inspect your steering rack

If the steering rack is going bad, your car may wander or make some thumping sounds and vibrations.

Some 5th gen Camaro owners have found themselves with a bad steering rack. While these are not very common, they can be quite serious. If you find yourself having to constantly correct your steering while traveling straight down the highway, it is a good sign that your rack is going bad. It also may make a constant thumping noise during turns and may also have a lot of vibration while driving. Replacing the rack is your only option and this is a moderately difficult job.

Figure 5. Checking your steering rack if your Camaro is constantly drifting.

If your issue is that your rear end is losing grip, read on to solve that problem.

Step 5 – Stiffen up your rear end

The stock rear end components can cause the dreaded "wheel hop" under acceleration.

Congratulations, you bought a Camaro SS with a powerful V8 motor and spinning the rear wheels is just a sign that you got what you paid for. During your normal day to day travels, the Camaro is a wonderful street rod with a very comfortable ride. Try to launch hard, and break the rear free, and you may get the dreaded "wheel hop." You may experience major slippage with the rear wheels when the tires stop biting and slip, then catch up and bite, but loses grip again. This cycle will continue until you get off the gas and stabilize the car. Unfortunately, there is nothing to "fix" for this in regards to stock components. You'll need to do a little upgrading, and luckily for you, these are relatively easy DIY jobs that you can get done in one weekend day.

  • Upgrade the very flexible rubber rear cradle subframe bushings with urethane or solid bushings. These work extremely well with the Camaro, and they are very inexpensive.
  • Upgrade to stiffer aftermarket trailing arms with high performance polyurethane bushings.
  • Upgrade the rear differential bushing (optional). This will transmit more horsepower directly to the tires at the expense of vibration and noise; and for the daily driver, this should not be necessary to eliminate most wheel hop.
If you aren't hitting the track, these components are all you'll ever need to worry about to improve your driving experience
Figure 6. If you aren't hitting the track, these components are all the upgrade you need.

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