jimdvan

I have a 63 vert with stock front end and Flaming River 12:1 steering box. All parts have no more than about 5K-8K miles on them. It has power steering. The tires are BFG 215/65/15 T/A radials.

I have the steering box set-up with virtually no play in the steering just short of tight. Upon turning right or left on curves or actual turns the steering return-to-center is a little sluggish and not quite complete. The car is due for an alignment and I would like a little quicker return-to-center response if I can get it. I also like neutral steering with no compensation for road crown. Any suggestions on how to have the shop set it up?

BarryK

C2 alignment with radial tires - info from JohnZ from prior postings:

http://www.lbfun.com/warehouse/tech_...0Alignment.pdf

jimdvan

Thanks

MikeM

I don't know what a Flaming River steering box is but if you have it set up "tight", especially if it has used parts in it, that may be part of your sluggish return.

Make sure you have enough positve caster in the alignment to return the wheels to center but not enough to cause hard low speed steering.

jimdvan

Flaming River makes a repro GM steering box. It was brand new with new parts. If I have the lash adjustment any looser it will wander too much. Its not tight enough to bind and the steering return was a little sluggish anyway for my liking.

MikeM

If you don't have enough caster dialed in, it will wander and be slow to return regardless of how tight your steering box is..

jimdvan

I had the alignment done with the recommended specs but I think something is amiss. At 50-70 mph if I hit the gas hard the car wants to drift left. When I let off the gas it comes back to the right. My guess is it isn't supposed to do that.

JohnZ

That's a classic symptom of a rear toe-in problem; either the rear toe-in isn't equal across the thrust centerline (biased to one side), or front trailing arm bushings are loose, or both.

jimdvan

Thanks. I'll take it back and have them recheck it.