What is steering my car from the back?
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
What is steering my car from the back?
While driving my '66 I've noticed under the right circumstances the car changes 'track' and it feels like it's doing so from the back, not the front.
PO has replace all the rear suspension including spring,shocks and both trailing arms and bearings...
What should I look for?
PO has replace all the rear suspension including spring,shocks and both trailing arms and bearings...
What should I look for?
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karkrafter (07-25-2016)
#3
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Sounds like something with your T/A
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karkrafter (07-25-2016)
#4
Le Mans Master
I agree with checking that the trailing arm shims are still in place, and tight, meaning none of them have fallen out. Even a few missing shims could allow enough movement to be noticeable.
How does the rear camber look from the back of the car?
Good luck... GUSTO
How does the rear camber look from the back of the car?
Good luck... GUSTO
#5
Drifting
Thread Starter
Camber looks fine...I thought the shims were captured so to speak..couldn't fall out.
#6
Team Owner
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karkrafter (07-25-2016)
#7
Le Mans Master
Is it possible to post a couple of pictures of the rear suspension? Perhaps a few full views and then some closer up of the bushings and half-shafts.
Something like this that Dan Clemans posted here.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...questions.html
This thread on "Half shaft stubs end play" might be helpful as well. Too much end play on the axles can cause them to slide in and out of the differential as the car is cornering or even changing lanes.
Good luck... GUSTO
#8
Melting Slicks
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Is the frame in good shape in front of the kick ups where they weld to the crossmember? I had one that was about to let go at that point due to rust through. Seemed to want to find its own track when hitting highway seams. Not a safe condition for sure. Dave
Last edited by dkleather; 07-25-2016 at 11:35 AM.
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karkrafter (07-25-2016)
#9
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The only thing that can steer a car from the back is thrust angle. The rear axle assembly is not square with the front wheels when going straight. A lot of times, this can be seen when following a vehicle: you can see all 4 tires, and sometimes, one side of the vehicle going down the road (dog-tracking) So either the axle assembly is shifted or the frame is out of square. Most likely, as stated, worn locating components that mount the rear axle, allowing it to move. Had a GTO years ago with the same issue and it was a bent axle tube on the diff housing. About a 3 degree thrust. Drove me nuts. Showed right up on the alignment rack.
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karkrafter (07-25-2016)
#10
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If tracking changes, 99% odds are that the trailing arm alignment shims are loose or missing, which makes it feel "sloppy" from the rear end, especially when it occurs in both directions. I've driven a number of midyears with this problem, and it's a very distinctive (and uneasy) feeling. Get under it and check out the trailing arm pivot bolts, pivot bushings, shims, and the frame on both sides.
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karkrafter (07-25-2016)
#11
Drifting
Thread Starter
Uneasy is a perfect way to describe it. The sensation isn't horrible and it's not there all the time but it IS there.
So what am I looking for? Am I using a bar to push around the front of the TA? How much movement is too much? I can put a wrench on everything else.
And this may be the king of stupid questions...how do you do an alignment [2 or 4 wheel] on a car with stupid knock-offs? Don't the spinners get in the way?
So what am I looking for? Am I using a bar to push around the front of the TA? How much movement is too much? I can put a wrench on everything else.
And this may be the king of stupid questions...how do you do an alignment [2 or 4 wheel] on a car with stupid knock-offs? Don't the spinners get in the way?
#12
Team Owner
Uneasy is a perfect way to describe it. The sensation isn't horrible and it's not there all the time but it IS there.
So what am I looking for? Am I using a bar to push around the front of the TA? How much movement is too much? I can put a wrench on everything else.
And this may be the king of stupid questions...how do you do an alignment [2 or 4 wheel] on a car with stupid knock-offs? Don't the spinners get in the way?
So what am I looking for? Am I using a bar to push around the front of the TA? How much movement is too much? I can put a wrench on everything else.
And this may be the king of stupid questions...how do you do an alignment [2 or 4 wheel] on a car with stupid knock-offs? Don't the spinners get in the way?
Should be NO movement...
4 Wheel alignment...
#14
Safety Car
Assuming you've checked and corrected everything in the back end that the other posters have suggested and you still have throttle steer problems, check your frame on the passenger side at the base of the spring pocket. You may have a crack in the frame at that location. I had this problem on both my 65 and my 66. Welding the crack solved the throttle steer problem. This kind of frame crack will also show up as twisting of the engine on its mounts when the steering wheel is turned with the car being stationary.
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I wonder why no one perfected those threaded shafts for C2-3 trailing arms? Two thin lock nuts on each side, no shims. Gulstrand used to make them. Anyone doing a body off should look into them. Soooooo easy to align that way.
#16
Drifting
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...Rotate them or try to borrow a set of four from a friend to check it out....Or just buy new tires!...Had a C2 Coupe several years ago that pulled hard to the left upon acceleration....Checked the trailing arms, rebuilt the carrier in the rear end, replaced the wheel bearings and half shaft u-joints....Accidently fixed the problem when I needed new tires!