Frankie the Fink

OK - go easy on me...I'm far from a front end guru. My car has started wandering lately and I've adjusted the steering box per procedure and it helped some but the problem continues. Front end alignment has been checked twice - tire wear is optimal.

With either tire off the ground jacked up at the control arm I get no discernible up/down or side/side movement that would tell me something is bad...

Going through the front end now looking for worn bits. This is a video of the tie road end bushings (excuse the dirt -- my cars are DRIVEN).
This looks like excessive movement to me -- thoughts ??

W Guy

Frankie,
The twisting seems normal to me. If you hold it level and it has movement left or right or up and down, then it's worn. Check the idler arm joint for movement. I think that's the only joint that doesn't have a grease zerk.

Verne

SW Vette

Is there much play at the steering wheel? Any sensation of sloppiness when it's turned side to side while the car's at rest?

You say the alignment's been checked twice so I guess you're sure it's not toed out? How about the rear toe settings - have they been checked? Maybe a shim fell out during one of your smoky burnouts through Old Town?

That's all I got

Frankie the Fink

Yes Verne - had another pal call me after looking at the video and he said the same thing - thanks...

There is a couple of inches play at rest in the steering wheel. The issue is wandering at speed and having to constantly correct direction of travel. Yes the 4 wheel alignment has been checked....rag joint, steering column bearings, tie rods and ball joints all look sound.

No bent parts that I can see....its a 250hp so smoky burnouts are mostly off the table.

Its rapidly coming down to a worn out steering box I believe...

Gonna carry it to another pal's house with a lift who knows more than me about this stuff to confirm the issue.

pop23235

Nothing odd there.
Do the steering box adjustment to check. Couple of inches sounds excessive, but depends on how much pressure you apply. You're flexing the tires, so the resistance is elastic.
Check and post how much caster you are running.

DansYellow66

I didn't see anything that looked odd either, but those tie rods look like they have been there for a long, long time. Replacing them wouldn't hurt anything.

I second looking at the idler arm. If it has any vertical movement at all it needs to be replaced.

rene-paul

John Greenwood wrote a VIP [vette improvement program] article about adjusting the gearbox. If I remember correctly, [which is questionable], The box was removed and adjusted on the bench using both adjustment points and a torque wrench. You may not have any more "high point centering." If you were to remove the pitman arm and rotate the rag by hand you should be able to feel the high point.
Was the box rebuilt in the past?
Brgds,
Rene

Tampa Jerry

Frankie: I don't think the slop or wandering is coming from the tie rods. A few inches of slop in the steering wheel is most likely the box. I adjusted mine off the car and per the manual, used a weight on the arm. I forgot what size of weight we used. If the box has to be rebuilt, consider using Van Steel. They did the rebuild on my 66. They are local for me in Clearwater and the turnaround time would be minimal. The Team Chevelle had a nice write up on rebuilding a Saginaw A body box. It did not look all that complicated. I wish it had been written before I had mine rebuilt. Good luck. Jerry

Frankie the Fink

The records from previous owners indicate the box was replaced sometime in the mid-80s...the current one is not correct for the car. I've obtained a correct one (rebuilt) from a forum member but wasn't going to put it on until necessary. I guess its time now.

BTW - I adjusted the box a month or so back and got nearly a full turn on the top screw and things seemed better for a while but now its all back to where it was. I suspect its the box....I'm gonna put the correct one in anyway and go from there as I'm not seeing any other issues.

tuxnharley

Or, maybe it's time for a Borgeson PS conversion upgrade to go along with the Vintage Air and Detroit Speed mods?

I will be putting the Borgeson kit in my '67 next week - can't wait to be able to put in a smaller diameter steering wheel then too!

pop23235

That would cause me to abandon this box for a rebuild or replacement.

pop23235

Frankie, that would cause me to replace or rebuild the box.

pop23235

Frankie, that would cause me to replace or rebuild the box.

Sorry folks. I keep getting error 500. Whatever that is.

Frankie the Fink

A new (rebuilt) steering box will be in by Saturday.

Just have to dig my Pitman arm puller out of the depths of the toolbox.
I know I have one somewhere...I've done this job before many years ago!

wmf62

as I reckon you already know, you can borrow one from FLAPS
Bill

Frankie the Fink

It was the steering box....
Rebuilt one swapped in and what a difference...
I can only describe the steering as 'orgasmic' now...

kingwoodvette

Nice! Makes me want to try it!

SW Vette

Still sounds a little "sloppy" to me...

tuxnharley

He must have lubed it well...............

toms silver 60

Now his 63 swc should handle as well as his 61!