Anyone with manual steering experience??
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Honolulu Hawaii
Anyone with manual steering experience??
Tried this in the tech section, alot of views but no responses.. maybe a different crowd here.
I was having this bad vibration in my steering when I would go over the smallest of bumps, So this past weekend I inspected the front end components, the U/L bushings seem like they were just replaced as there was still tape holding he shims together, inner and outer tie rod ends and idler arm seem to have no play to them..So I replaced the shocks and stabilizer links, I drove the car afterwards and drove a little better but there is still slight vibration when hitting bumps.. the whole steering column will vibrate like a bad shock...I did notice that the steering damper bushing was a little worn out... if the damper is worn out itself, will this be the cause of the vibration, Or could it be worn springs.. I have a feeling it's the damper but want some opinions before I go and replace it..TIA!!
I was having this bad vibration in my steering when I would go over the smallest of bumps, So this past weekend I inspected the front end components, the U/L bushings seem like they were just replaced as there was still tape holding he shims together, inner and outer tie rod ends and idler arm seem to have no play to them..So I replaced the shocks and stabilizer links, I drove the car afterwards and drove a little better but there is still slight vibration when hitting bumps.. the whole steering column will vibrate like a bad shock...I did notice that the steering damper bushing was a little worn out... if the damper is worn out itself, will this be the cause of the vibration, Or could it be worn springs.. I have a feeling it's the damper but want some opinions before I go and replace it..TIA!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
From: Santee CA
Originally Posted by c3 in hawaii
Tried this in the tech section, alot of views but no responses.. maybe a different crowd here.
I was having this bad vibration in my steering when I would go over the smallest of bumps, So this past weekend I inspected the front end components, the U/L bushings seem like they were just replaced as there was still tape holding he shims together, inner and outer tie rod ends and idler arm seem to have no play to them..So I replaced the shocks and stabilizer links, I drove the car afterwards and drove a little better but there is still slight vibration when hitting bumps.. the whole steering column will vibrate like a bad shock...I did notice that the steering damper bushing was a little worn out... if the damper is worn out itself, will this be the cause of the vibration, Or could it be worn springs.. I have a feeling it's the damper but want some opinions before I go and replace it..TIA!!
I was having this bad vibration in my steering when I would go over the smallest of bumps, So this past weekend I inspected the front end components, the U/L bushings seem like they were just replaced as there was still tape holding he shims together, inner and outer tie rod ends and idler arm seem to have no play to them..So I replaced the shocks and stabilizer links, I drove the car afterwards and drove a little better but there is still slight vibration when hitting bumps.. the whole steering column will vibrate like a bad shock...I did notice that the steering damper bushing was a little worn out... if the damper is worn out itself, will this be the cause of the vibration, Or could it be worn springs.. I have a feeling it's the damper but want some opinions before I go and replace it..TIA!!
1) How fast are you going over the bumps? Are you crawling over them, or is it something like hitting the rain grooves on the freeway?
2) Are you feeling any vibration from the front end under braking?
3) Is the vibration happening when you're not hitting bumps? For example, if you're doing 60 mph on the freeway, do you feel any vibration then, or is it only when you hit the bumps?
I'm thinking it MIGHT be something like a tire that needs to be balanced, but then again, I could be WAY off on this...
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Honolulu Hawaii
Originally Posted by Sprzout
Hmm...Couple of questions to try and narrow it down...
1) How fast are you going over the bumps? Are you crawling over them, or is it something like hitting the rain grooves on the freeway?
2) Are you feeling any vibration from the front end under braking?
3) Is the vibration happening when you're not hitting bumps? For example, if you're doing 60 mph on the freeway, do you feel any vibration then, or is it only when you hit the bumps?
I'm thinking it MIGHT be something like a tire that needs to be balanced, but then again, I could be WAY off on this...
1) How fast are you going over the bumps? Are you crawling over them, or is it something like hitting the rain grooves on the freeway?
2) Are you feeling any vibration from the front end under braking?
3) Is the vibration happening when you're not hitting bumps? For example, if you're doing 60 mph on the freeway, do you feel any vibration then, or is it only when you hit the bumps?
I'm thinking it MIGHT be something like a tire that needs to be balanced, but then again, I could be WAY off on this...
1) I say a minimum speed of 25.. up to freeway speeds...not like
hitting those grooves
2) no vibration under braking
3) only when I hit bumps..it's not like the wheel is vibrating
like a tire out of balance or warped brake rotors..feels like the whole
steering column itself will vibrate.
I can let my hands of the wheel on a smooth pavement and it will
drive straight, it's just every once and a while I'll hit a bump and
the steering column will feel like it's mounted on a spring. This is
the first time owning a manual steering car, what is the purpose of
the steering damper...Is it there to absorb road conditions??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Without knowing the history of your Vette, some of the following guesses may make sense or not.
Has you car been in an accident? If your relay rod is not parallel with the ground (i.e. bent frame, bent idler arm, etc), your suspension can cause the front end to shake when hitting a bump.
Are you sure that your steering column is securely fastened into your car?
The column is attached to an intermediate bracket (U) by two bolts (H). That bracket is bolted to still another bracket (T).
Also the lower end of the steering column attaches to the floor by means of another bracket (N) under the hood and two nuts (K) that are inside the car. Maybe there is a reason why some of the fasteners may be loose or not.
Are you sure that the steering gear is fastened properly to the frame?
Possibly your column vibration might be caused by steering column components being loose. My steering T&T steering column Repair paper has several simple tests to check for loose internal column parts.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...&R1-30MY06.doc
Are you sure that your rear suspension strut rods and mounts are in good shape?
This is just a start.
Has you car been in an accident? If your relay rod is not parallel with the ground (i.e. bent frame, bent idler arm, etc), your suspension can cause the front end to shake when hitting a bump.
Are you sure that your steering column is securely fastened into your car?
The column is attached to an intermediate bracket (U) by two bolts (H). That bracket is bolted to still another bracket (T).
Also the lower end of the steering column attaches to the floor by means of another bracket (N) under the hood and two nuts (K) that are inside the car. Maybe there is a reason why some of the fasteners may be loose or not.
Are you sure that the steering gear is fastened properly to the frame?
Possibly your column vibration might be caused by steering column components being loose. My steering T&T steering column Repair paper has several simple tests to check for loose internal column parts.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...&R1-30MY06.doc
Are you sure that your rear suspension strut rods and mounts are in good shape?
This is just a start.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Hi
I think I know what you mean.
This is not realy vibration of a regular type, like wheel vibration, but some kind of rattle of the steering column.
My 68 big block manual steering makes this as well and BB do not have a damper.
The damper of the SB is not ment for this type of vibrations.
I think that a manual steering Vette just makes you feel every wheel hop, car bent/twist an so on.
My car was checked on a rattle plate for drive tarin play and all OK.
Everything is tightened down and the hardy plate is like new, so I guess , this feeling is some kind of normal.
The front end of our Vettes is some kind of soft and driving over bumps makes it flex a hell of a bit bringing the allignement of the complete steering out. This movement makes you feel like if the column is moving/vibrating.
I think on a PS car, most of this feeling is absorbed by the power piston.
From the last mounting bolt under the dash board, the steering column extends quiet a bit further to the steering wheel. Any small movement at the hardy plate area will make the steering column some kind of vibrate at the steering wheel.
If the steering damper is U/S, I guess that the steering hweel will just vibrate in the steering directions, not up down or left right.
Günther
I think I know what you mean.
This is not realy vibration of a regular type, like wheel vibration, but some kind of rattle of the steering column.
My 68 big block manual steering makes this as well and BB do not have a damper.
The damper of the SB is not ment for this type of vibrations.
I think that a manual steering Vette just makes you feel every wheel hop, car bent/twist an so on.
My car was checked on a rattle plate for drive tarin play and all OK.
Everything is tightened down and the hardy plate is like new, so I guess , this feeling is some kind of normal.
The front end of our Vettes is some kind of soft and driving over bumps makes it flex a hell of a bit bringing the allignement of the complete steering out. This movement makes you feel like if the column is moving/vibrating.
I think on a PS car, most of this feeling is absorbed by the power piston.
From the last mounting bolt under the dash board, the steering column extends quiet a bit further to the steering wheel. Any small movement at the hardy plate area will make the steering column some kind of vibrate at the steering wheel.
If the steering damper is U/S, I guess that the steering hweel will just vibrate in the steering directions, not up down or left right.
Günther
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 663
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu Hawaii
Originally Posted by WESCH
Hi
some kind of rattle of the steering column.
This movement makes you feel like if the column is moving/vibrating.
Any small movement will make the steering column some kind of vibrate at the steering wheel.
Günther
some kind of rattle of the steering column.
This movement makes you feel like if the column is moving/vibrating.
Any small movement will make the steering column some kind of vibrate at the steering wheel.
Günther
