When you own a Corvette C8 Z06, you're not just driving a car, you're part of a legacy of high-performance engineering and passionate automotive culture. However, even these pinnacle machines can sometimes present unexpected challenges. Daniel Holmes, a dedicated Corvette enthusiast, recently took to the "Corvette C8 Z06, ZR1 & E-Ray" Facebook group to share his ongoing experience with his C8 Z06.
"Back wheel has been clicking for awhile, dealer said this was the reason then cleaned it and said car is working as it should... still clicking. I am sure rust has ate through it enough to where the whole hub needs to needs to be replaced. Anyone else has an experience this? 2,800 miles."
Many users took to the comment section to assist, including Yorgo Drivas, who suggested a methodical approach to diagnosing the problem.
The First Mid-Engine Corvette
- The C8 Corvette's mid-engine layout was practically an open secret long before its 2019 unveiling. Spy shots of camouflaged test mules began surfacing as early as 2015, and GM insiders couldn’t keep a lid on the whispers. For a detailed look at how Chevrolet refined its iconic sports car, check out What’s New With the 2021 C8 Mid-Engine Corvette.
- Despite GM's best attempts to conceal the car’s revolutionary design, the test mules didn’t do a great job blending in. Clunky disguises with exaggerated panels and comically oversized wings only fueled speculation.
- Engineers like Zora Arkus-Duntov, the “Father of the Corvette,” had championed the idea as far back as the 1970s. By the time the C8 arrived, it felt less like a revelation and more like the inevitable conclusion to a half-century of rumor, speculation, and wishful thinking.
Figuring Out The Issue
"Fastest way I can think of figuring out if it’s the rim or not is swap out the rim with someone else’s and drive on it. New rim and same noise you can eliminate it being the rim. If it's not the rim and the noise coincides with speed meaning it’s more frequent as you accelerate and vice versa then it could be something didn’t get greased well or bearings etc but they would need to actually remove the hub and inspect it and behind in the CV or axle etc to really find out. Plus I know not all dealerships have Z06 certified mechanics. I’d call around and find a shop that has a specialized Z06 certified mechanic and take it there rather than the normal Chevy mechanics. Good luck."
With a variety of suggestions on the table, Holmes now faces the task of systematically addressing each potential cause.
The Dealership Experience
One of the downsides of owning a C8 Corvette is the dealership experience. It’s not that Chevrolet doesn’t know how to build world-beating machines, they’ve done it with the Corvette since Eisenhower was in office. It’s just that Chevy’s service counter is more likely to be dealing with a transmission replacement for a Tahoe than explaining launch control in a mid-engine supercar.
And this mismatch? It’s not a new phenomenon. Remember the Acura NSX back in the 1990s? Honda built a car that could punch a Ferrari 348 straight in its designer sunglasses. It had reliability that made Italian exotics look like temperamental divas. But where’d you buy one?
From the same place, you got your aunt’s Acura Legend. Meanwhile, Ferrari buyers were sipping champagne and getting treated like art collectors. The NSX gave you sports car magic at a price that wouldn’t vaporize your checking account.
For readers interested in diving deeper into the evolution of the C8 Corvette and how it stacks up against other supercars, check out 5 Features That Make the 2020 C8 Corvette Better Than Those Other Supercars.
What would you do if you encountered this issue on your practically brand-new C8 Corvette?
Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.
Comments
2,300 miles should be under…
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2,300 miles should be under warranty. Take it to the dealer.
Rust on a wheel hub is NOT…
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In reply to 2,300 miles should be under… by Richard Rosell (not verified)
Rust on a wheel hub is NOT detrimental to vehicle performance or durability and can be found on wheel hubs on EVERY car that has EVER been driven on US roads since the invention of the wheel.
Stupid is a choice... choose to be SMART
I imagine it's under…
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In reply to 2,300 miles should be under… by Richard Rosell (not verified)
I imagine it's under warranty as well.
Nice looking car for sure!…
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Nice looking car for sure! Hope you get it fixed to your satisfaction, if dealer scum gives you trouble, contact GM customer service with your adviser and job number. Cheers.
People are seldom aware of…
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People are seldom aware of how long their new car has been sitting patiently waiting to be purchased. Some dealers still have 2022’s . Who knows what they have sat through.
A lot of rain I imagine.
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In reply to People are seldom aware of… by Graham H (not verified)
A lot of rain I imagine.
A dealer with a zo6…
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A dealer with a zo6 certified mechanic? As a multi brand master tech I'd like to say, that entire concept is ridiculous. Most of the time that specialty certified mechanic is the biggest dipshit in the building and couldn't fix a lawnmower engine without the manual laying in front of them the entire time. Any good tech can work on anything.
Also, thinking a tiny amount of surface rust on a hub, just like every car on the road has, is a problem is one of the biggest displays of total stupidity I've ever seen.
World-beating machines since Eisenhower? Do you mean that squeaking, rattling, log wagon driving plastic junk they built for almost 40 years? Go drive a '80s or 90s RX-7 turbo and come back and tell me about how corvettes of the same eras are world beating. The 90's ZR1 may have had 400hp, but it couldn't catch a 200hp 87 Turbo II in mountains if it had to. Corvettes are for 65 year olds to drive 55 in.
Agree with your last…
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In reply to A dealer with a zo6… by Jason B (not verified)
Agree with your last statement. We enjoy our 86 vette, which is more of a car than a motorized computer.
I see plenty of C5 and C6’s…
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In reply to A dealer with a zo6… by Jason B (not verified)
I see plenty of C5 and C6’s at track days, and they’re some of the fastest cars out there. Rarely see any rx7’s, lots of Miata’s.
Its probably nothing. People…
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Its probably nothing. People who spend more than they comfortably should have tend to obsess over the most insignificant things. Rust on a steel wheel hub is 100% normal on any vehicle. So I sont even know what to think at this point.
Get rid of it! Problem…
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Get rid of it! Problem solved.
In reality, Corvette's look…
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In reply to Get rid of it! Problem… by Craig (not verified)
In reality, Corvette's look like plastic pos. Grey haired drivers look like schleprocks. I'll bet a buck, a majority of those drivers have NEVER taken their "race motor's" 100 rpms past the redline. If they have taken it even close to the redline,if ya don't have the balls to do so,we'll keep on grannying down the road at 30 mph. "Grow some Hair"
Daniel Holmes should never…
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Daniel Holmes should never be permitted to own another car, let alone a Corvette, if he thinks that surface rust is responsible for anything... Or that it isn't normal