steering issue...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Liverpool New York
steering issue...
My 82 has a slight quirk in the steering. I seem to be in a constant state of correction when driving....the steering feels kinda "sticky".
All bushings on the front end have been replaced with eurethane, shocks and springs are good, wheel bearings are good, new tires and a front end alignment 2 weeks ago. The only things left are an adjustment to the steering box (not sure how to do) and replacing the steering damper.
could the steering damper cause "sticking"? Anybody have any thoughts on how to check for proper adjustment on the steering box?
Thanks
Fred
All bushings on the front end have been replaced with eurethane, shocks and springs are good, wheel bearings are good, new tires and a front end alignment 2 weeks ago. The only things left are an adjustment to the steering box (not sure how to do) and replacing the steering damper.
could the steering damper cause "sticking"? Anybody have any thoughts on how to check for proper adjustment on the steering box?
Thanks
Fred
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Lake Texoma Oklahoma
I did the on the fly steering adjustment twice on my 79 after new tires and shocks, did wonders, before it was scary to drive at speed. FYI...there was no grease in my box, filled it with Mobile syn.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 3
From: Presently working under contract in Alabama
On the fly adjustment?? What did you do. I know what you mean about being scary to drive at speed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
The steering box adjustment is pretty easy. Look on top of the steering box and you'll see a large nut, with a slotted screw in the center. Loosen the nut and tighten the slotted screw and then back off a 1/4 turn and see how it feels after that. This takes up the lash in the gears inside.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Lake Texoma Oklahoma
Got the wheels as strait as I could by eye.
Loosened the keeper nut on the box and turned the lash screw until I felt some resistance, about a quarter turn and tightened the keeper nut. Helped right away, after a week I did it again, total was a little under halfway around. It looked like mine had never been moved, the car had 23k miles when I got it. Filled the box 3/4 full with grease.
This was one of the post I liked, there are many.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ent-works.html
Hope this helps.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 3
From: Presently working under contract in Alabama
Here's what I did, I read it here.
Got the wheels as strait as I could by eye.
Loosened the keeper nut on the box and turned the lash screw until I felt some resistance, about a quarter turn and tightened the keeper nut. Helped right away, after a week I did it again, total was a little under halfway around. It looked like mine had never been moved, the car had 23k miles when I got it. Filled the box 3/4 full with grease.
This was one of the post I liked, there are many.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ent-works.html
Hope this helps.
Got the wheels as strait as I could by eye.
Loosened the keeper nut on the box and turned the lash screw until I felt some resistance, about a quarter turn and tightened the keeper nut. Helped right away, after a week I did it again, total was a little under halfway around. It looked like mine had never been moved, the car had 23k miles when I got it. Filled the box 3/4 full with grease.
This was one of the post I liked, there are many.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ent-works.html
Hope this helps.
Thank you very much. I have all new suspension and am having the steering column rebuilt.
I was thinking that this might be the time to change over to a Borgeson Box because this thing scares #$@& out of me at speed.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
Smartest move you'll ever make.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 3
From: Presently working under contract in Alabama
Well, with your car, anyway. I put the Borgeson box in my '74 coupe and it made a huge difference to the way it drives. Basically, it brings the car's steering into the 21st century because it uses a 21st century steering box. You even get to use your original Pitman arm and all of the other steering components deigned by Zora and GM.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
Biggest change?
SJ,
I drive a 2010 Holden Cruze, just a RHD Chev Cruze, and am used to the very precise steering it has. Of course it's rack and pinion, but the overall ease, precision and minimal turns lock to lock make it fun to drive. The Borgeson box puts that feeling into my 39 year old Corvette coupe and apart from being LHD, gives a similar steering feel to the Cruze.
In case I forget the improvement, I also have a '74 vert with factory power assisted steering and I can readily feel the difference between the steering in the two Vettes. Also, there are no PS fluid leaks, and the hoses are tucked up above the chassis and are easy to check on compared to the factory set up.
Compared to other types of steering kits available, the Borgeson kit was a simple bolt-in that required no alteration to exhaust, clutch linkage or oil pan etc. With a hoist and simple hand tools, plus a Pitman arm puller, a competent mechanic could do the swap in an hour or so.
Hope this helps.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
I drive a 2010 Holden Cruze, just a RHD Chev Cruze, and am used to the very precise steering it has. Of course it's rack and pinion, but the overall ease, precision and minimal turns lock to lock make it fun to drive. The Borgeson box puts that feeling into my 39 year old Corvette coupe and apart from being LHD, gives a similar steering feel to the Cruze.
In case I forget the improvement, I also have a '74 vert with factory power assisted steering and I can readily feel the difference between the steering in the two Vettes. Also, there are no PS fluid leaks, and the hoses are tucked up above the chassis and are easy to check on compared to the factory set up.
Compared to other types of steering kits available, the Borgeson kit was a simple bolt-in that required no alteration to exhaust, clutch linkage or oil pan etc. With a hoist and simple hand tools, plus a Pitman arm puller, a competent mechanic could do the swap in an hour or so.
Hope this helps.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Racer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 3
From: Presently working under contract in Alabama
SJ,
I drive a 2010 Holden Cruze, just a RHD Chev Cruze, and am used to the very precise steering it has. Of course it's rack and pinion, but the overall ease, precision and minimal turns lock to lock make it fun to drive. The Borgeson box puts that feeling into my 39 year old Corvette coupe and apart from being LHD, gives a similar steering feel to the Cruze.
In case I forget the improvement, I also have a '74 vert with factory power assisted steering and I can readily feel the difference between the steering in the two Vettes. Also, there are no PS fluid leaks, and the hoses are tucked up above the chassis and are easy to check on compared to the factory set up.
Compared to other types of steering kits available, the Borgeson kit was a simple bolt-in that required no alteration to exhaust, clutch linkage or oil pan etc. With a hoist and simple hand tools, plus a Pitman arm puller, a competent mechanic could do the swap in an hour or so.
Hope this helps.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
I drive a 2010 Holden Cruze, just a RHD Chev Cruze, and am used to the very precise steering it has. Of course it's rack and pinion, but the overall ease, precision and minimal turns lock to lock make it fun to drive. The Borgeson box puts that feeling into my 39 year old Corvette coupe and apart from being LHD, gives a similar steering feel to the Cruze.
In case I forget the improvement, I also have a '74 vert with factory power assisted steering and I can readily feel the difference between the steering in the two Vettes. Also, there are no PS fluid leaks, and the hoses are tucked up above the chassis and are easy to check on compared to the factory set up.
Compared to other types of steering kits available, the Borgeson kit was a simple bolt-in that required no alteration to exhaust, clutch linkage or oil pan etc. With a hoist and simple hand tools, plus a Pitman arm puller, a competent mechanic could do the swap in an hour or so.
Hope this helps.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn