Lost Steering Temporarily
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Phoenixville PA
Lost Steering Temporarily
I was out for a drive in my "72" when I went to make a left hand turn and the car did not respond immediately. It steered fine after that and I thought that maybe it was my imagination but then it happened again a month later. I am thinking the steering box needs to be rebuilt or replaced. Has anyone experienced the same thing or have any ideas on what might be going on.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
I can only believe that the "ragjoint" steering coupling between the steering column shaft and the steering box is nearly disintegrated and would allow such a situation to occur. You should not drive the car unless you are going to a mechanic to get it checked out properly...and then you should drive carefully. You can look at the ragjoint and see if the fiber coupling looks like it is damaged. You can also have someone attempt to turn the steering wheel while you are looking at the ragjoint to see how much movement it has. With the engine off, you should not be able to turn the wheel much at all with normal steering effort.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
There is a high spot in the gear mesh at TDC in the steering box. If the steering gear was adjusted at anything but TDC you might get a bind as it crosses TDC. I would get the front wheels off the ground and go through Jim Shea's papers about the rag joint and the steering box adjustment.
Afterthought: You might want to check to see if you have any lube left in the box as well. If it was just hard to steer in a turn for a second it could be a PS issue as well.
Afterthought: You might want to check to see if you have any lube left in the box as well. If it was just hard to steer in a turn for a second it could be a PS issue as well.
Last edited by 08vycpe; Mar 17, 2010 at 08:05 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
What do you mean by "did not respond immediately"? Did the steering wheel turn but the car didn't or were you unable to turn the steering wheel? If the steering wheel turned but the car didn't, how far did the steering wheel turn before the car turned?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
If your power steering fluid is low, you can sometimes suck air on a hard turn and you might lose power assist briefly. I would expect that your power steering pump would make a lot of noise for a short time thereafter if it had sucked air.
A good inspection of your steering and front end parts is in order.
Jim
A good inspection of your steering and front end parts is in order.
Jim
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
Yes, the OP seems a little vague.. when driving down the street, can you not turn because it is too hard to turn the steering wheel? Or, when you spin the steering wheel, did you still go straight?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Phoenixville PA
I turned the steering wheel but the car kept going straight or veered just slightly in the direction I wanted to go. I can't remember if I turned the steering wheel back straight or turned it more in the direction I wanted to go but I made the turn. After the turn as I was driving down the road I turned the wheel to the right and left and the car drove fine. Thats when I thought I sort of doubted what happened until it happend a month later. I have had the car put away for the winter but will take it to my Vette specialist to have them take a look at it.
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Limping across the line
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,299
Likes: 109
From: Peoria Az
Stripped or wrong sized splines at the steering wheel hub ,just below the wheel are another area to look at.
I installed a new steering shaft in a C2 awhile back and the spline diameter was the wrong size. Didnt notice that till a month after the customer was driving it.
I installed a new steering shaft in a C2 awhile back and the spline diameter was the wrong size. Didnt notice that till a month after the customer was driving it.
