80 steering and driveability
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Griffith Indiana
80 steering and driveability
I own a 1980 corvette, 65k miles and has sat for th3 last three years outside in northwest indiana under thin tarp...
Driving the car is a struggle. I fully understand that the car is an 80's model and that technology increases have only made vehicles better in there driveability, but why is it so difficult to drive this car straight down the road? Steering appears loose and it is difficult to keep the car in the right lane...
Bushings underneath the vehicle are definitely worn and can use a replacing, but ball joints, tie rods look good.
What items should I be addressing first relating to suspension to "better" the driveability of this vehicle?
Thanks,
TTERZ
Driving the car is a struggle. I fully understand that the car is an 80's model and that technology increases have only made vehicles better in there driveability, but why is it so difficult to drive this car straight down the road? Steering appears loose and it is difficult to keep the car in the right lane...
Bushings underneath the vehicle are definitely worn and can use a replacing, but ball joints, tie rods look good.
What items should I be addressing first relating to suspension to "better" the driveability of this vehicle?
Thanks,
TTERZ
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
For starters, the bushings that you mentioned which are worn are more than likely the main source of your problem. When they wear out, the car no longer can maintain correct wheel alignment. So, you wander all over the road. Not uncommon in corvettes. You probably need to change out all the rubber bushings, and any other worn suspension parts then get a 4 wheel alignment.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Griffith Indiana
Is this something that can be accomplished in the garage and is primarily only changing out the bushings themselves? Anything specific relating to tools or special procedures that I need to be familiar with and are there any specific bushings that I cannot replace myself?
Sorry for questions but am in education mode here and want to know as much as possible before I attempt to tackle myself and purchase.
Thanks.
Sorry for questions but am in education mode here and want to know as much as possible before I attempt to tackle myself and purchase.
Thanks.
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 327
Likes: 2
From: Livermore California
get a shop manual ...
get a shop manual. it will give you a great idea as to what's involved and any special tools you will need to do the job right. if your good at improvising, some jobs and fixes can be very simple. ohterwise it's best to find a trusted shop mechanic to do the hard stuff.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
After the bushings the next suspect is the steering box. After 30 years it is likely to be worn out. With the engine off, wheels straight, how far can you wiggle the steering wheel before you feel resistance? With a proper box, there should be almost no detectable play.
I can tell you that although these cars will not drive as well as a modern car, they will go down the highway straight when everything is up to snuff.
I can tell you that although these cars will not drive as well as a modern car, they will go down the highway straight when everything is up to snuff.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 459
From: Lititz PA
Also take a look at that independent rear end. There are plenty of wear parts back there to check. There is a ton of information available on this forum. And yes, get a Corvette shop manual and study the chapter on suspension. As you find items that look suspect, take pictures and post them here and you will find lots of help.
Your car sounds a lot like my '73 the first time I test drove it. I wound it up in first, then second, then skipped to fourth and slowed down. The car was way too scary to drive even half-fast on the relatively small road I was on. I'm still in the process of rebuilding the entire suspension.
Good luck,
John
Your car sounds a lot like my '73 the first time I test drove it. I wound it up in first, then second, then skipped to fourth and slowed down. The car was way too scary to drive even half-fast on the relatively small road I was on. I'm still in the process of rebuilding the entire suspension.
Good luck,
John
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 910
Likes: 20
From: Shorewood IL
Just make sure you do your homework when it comes time to replace it. I got a rebuilt unit and it's just as bad as the one I took out of there! The rest of my front end has been rebuilt.
There's always the Borgeson route as well as steeroids.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 483
Likes: 3
From: d.d.o quebec
I own a 1980 corvette, 65k miles and has sat for th3 last three years outside in northwest indiana under thin tarp...
Driving the car is a struggle. I fully understand that the car is an 80's model and that technology increases have only made vehicles better in there driveability, but why is it so difficult to drive this car straight down the road? Steering appears loose and it is difficult to keep the car in the right lane...
Bushings underneath the vehicle are definitely worn and can use a replacing, but ball joints, tie rods look good.
What items should I be addressing first relating to suspension to "better" the driveability of this vehicle?
Thanks,
TTERZ
Driving the car is a struggle. I fully understand that the car is an 80's model and that technology increases have only made vehicles better in there driveability, but why is it so difficult to drive this car straight down the road? Steering appears loose and it is difficult to keep the car in the right lane...
Bushings underneath the vehicle are definitely worn and can use a replacing, but ball joints, tie rods look good.
What items should I be addressing first relating to suspension to "better" the driveability of this vehicle?
Thanks,
TTERZ
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 459
From: Lititz PA
65k is not that much your steering box should be good.
I sort of agree with that. I've owned cars with well over 100K miles on them and the steering box was fine. On the othe hand, my '73 had 80K miles on it when I bought it, and the steering box had at least 30 degrees of free play in the wheel
I was able to adjust it to reduce that to about 15 degrees. I'm going with Steeroids rack and pinion.
John
I sort of agree with that. I've owned cars with well over 100K miles on them and the steering box was fine. On the othe hand, my '73 had 80K miles on it when I bought it, and the steering box had at least 30 degrees of free play in the wheel
I was able to adjust it to reduce that to about 15 degrees. I'm going with Steeroids rack and pinion.John
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Griffith Indiana
Thanks everyone and I will definitely be taking pics as i move along through the process. Alignment is definitely needed i believe but to be honest I have not gone to the local alignment shop yet because they are probably going to look at me and think why the heck is this guy bringing his car in here for an alignment when the bushings and stuff look this bad..... :-)
Although, it probably is a good idea to take the car there and see if they actually can do the alignment or not based on what they have to work with.
Thanks for the information everyone, what is the best shop manual to purchase? Are you speaking of a Chilton's manual or something like that?
Although, it probably is a good idea to take the car there and see if they actually can do the alignment or not based on what they have to work with.
Thanks for the information everyone, what is the best shop manual to purchase? Are you speaking of a Chilton's manual or something like that?
