54 steering
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Bella Vista AR
54 steering
Just got my '54, it's great. The steering is hard to operate when car is at rest. Once car is moving it's fine. Girl friend is unable to steer car when it's at rest. Looks like I'd have to change the complete steering column, gear box, etc. All help is appreciated. Do not really want to change to rack and pinion. Thanks, Ed
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,048
Likes: 79
From: central FL, near the beach.
1st thing they taught new drivers in 1954
Never try to turn the wheel when car is at rest!
A good teacher could teach her how to drive.
Never try to turn the wheel when car is at rest!
A good teacher could teach her how to drive.
Last edited by Matt Gruber; Oct 11, 2012 at 04:27 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,682
Likes: 3,135
From: Shamong, NJ
It's funny how dependent people have become on things like power steering.
What you're experiencing is typical of 53-62 Corvettes, and most other old cars, that didn't have power steering.
You can live with it, go to a rack and pinion set-up, or sell it and buy a new generation Corvette with power steering.
What you're experiencing is typical of 53-62 Corvettes, and most other old cars, that didn't have power steering.
You can live with it, go to a rack and pinion set-up, or sell it and buy a new generation Corvette with power steering.
Le Mans Master
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From: Plano IL
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no wonder my arms are huge......no wait I'm fat.....LOL
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,730
Likes: 92
From: Lakeland FL
Pick one or more:
1. This is a joke, right?
2. You didn't drive a solid axle before you bought your 54.
3. You don't spend much time on the forum
If 2 or 3 is appropriate, you have quite a journey ahead of you.
Welcome to solid axles and probably a LOT more time on this forum (if you are wise).
Use the search function, there are dozens of threads regarding steering and options (none of them with a silver bullet).
Happy cruising!
2. You didn't drive a solid axle before you bought your 54.
3. You don't spend much time on the forum
If 2 or 3 is appropriate, you have quite a journey ahead of you.
Welcome to solid axles and probably a LOT more time on this forum (if you are wise).
Use the search function, there are dozens of threads regarding steering and options (none of them with a silver bullet).
Happy cruising!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Just got my '54, it's great. The steering is hard to operate when car is at rest. Once car is moving it's fine. Girl friend is unable to steer car when it's at rest. Looks like I'd have to change the complete steering column, gear box, etc. All help is appreciated. Do not really want to change to rack and pinion. Thanks, Ed
If you didn't have the huge steering wheel, it would be hard to turn with the car moving.
ALL of the solid axle cars are that way....
We have gotten so used to creature comfort that many forget that these are CRUDE cars by today's standards, but were "state of the art" back nearly 60 years ago.
Chuck