rear suspension help!!!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
rear suspension help!!!
I had a "wandering" problem on my car that was diagnosed as a really worn side yoke. I've got that replaced and everything back together in the car. I've gone on a couple of test drives and everything seemed ok. Then tonight I go for another drive and when I accelerate hard, the car pulls to the right pretty drastically, and then when I let off the gas, it pulls back to the left. When going 40-50mph and going over a mound (more than a bump) the car will surge to the right as the car goes over the top, then surge left as the car "squats" a little. I just had enought time to put the car on jackstands again before I came inside. I'll have to check and make sure everyting is tight and hasn't come loose. So, if not the side yokes, (now that they are replaced) what else could it be?
Alignment? I don't think my TA bushings are bad, I don't feel any play in them. Loose strut rod?
Thanks - Jeremy
Alignment? I don't think my TA bushings are bad, I don't feel any play in them. Loose strut rod?
Thanks - Jeremy
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
Im not too sure on their age, I wouldn't be surprised if they were original, or at least pretty old. can you push/pull on them to tell if they are bad? They seem pretty tight - not sure how to tell though. I had a local guy come out before I replaced the yoke, he thought the TA bushings looked fine, but I had a lot of play in my side yokes, good thing I replaced them b/c they were really worn. Im still hoping something has just become loose, b/c it didn't feel bad at all a day or two ago when I last drove it. Unfortunately I'll be out of town this weekend to really check into it. Hopefully there will be lots of good ideas and leads to follow on this thread when I get back.
Thanks Big_G for that suggestion. When I get back out to the garage I'll see what I can see/feel. Perhaps tmorrow before work I'll have alittle time.
Thanks Big_G for that suggestion. When I get back out to the garage I'll see what I can see/feel. Perhaps tmorrow before work I'll have alittle time.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: daytona beach florida
i know my ta bushings are bad
just role down the road and goose it if you hear a big bang and the hole rear feels like its going right and then another bang when you lett off and the car goes left... its the bushings, and theyre bad 
and you can pry them from the left to the right and up and down...
and you can pry them from the left to the right and up and down...
Last edited by black77c3vett; Mar 3, 2006 at 12:23 AM. Reason: teck advise
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
Well, it does go right, then left when goosing and letting off, no noises whatsoever. I tried prying on them with a mini cro-bar and did not feel or get any play in the TA bushings. I did notice that a spindle nut on the back pass side looked like it had backed off a bit. So I removed half shaft, removed cotter pin, and got a full 1/4 or 1/2 a turn on the spindle nut and then put everything back together for another early AM test drive, still really bad.
Could it be something up front? Keep the ideas coming!!!!!
How much force should I use when trying to pry and feel the TA bushings?
Could it be something up front? Keep the ideas coming!!!!!
How much force should I use when trying to pry and feel the TA bushings?
Intermediate
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
My bet is your T/A bushings are bad, even if your problem is somewhere else. I have yet to see a single example of original rubber on my 76 that does not need replacing. My right was total gone and left was in 4 pieces. Sounds like you may need to have your T/As rebuilt anyway.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 303
From: Lansdale 19446 PA
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '10-'11, '15, '19
Take a look at your front upper control arm bushings. I had this happen to me a few years ago. It was the upper right A-Arm bushings.
Just a thought!
Just a thought!
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,156
Likes: 3,965
From: Connecticut, USA
If you had play in the spindle nut I would not drive the car. Sounds like you might be in need of a T arm rebuild. Could be a combination of several things. The spindle nut should be torqued to 100+ ft/lbs
If you found it that loose do you have endplay?
You could go back over the torque settings on the bolts in the suspension but I really would check that spindle.
This may help
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...686&forum_id=3
You know where to get me if you need any help
Good Luck
If you found it that loose do you have endplay?
You could go back over the torque settings on the bolts in the suspension but I really would check that spindle.
This may help
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...686&forum_id=3
You know where to get me if you need any help
Good Luck
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
That spindle/bearing assembly will be replaced this summer - A local guy has the press etc so I can mess it up myself - thanks for that link above regarding the rear bearing setup.
Im heading to a buddies shop tonight to get the car on a lift so we can check it out. Can't see much with the car only on jackstands. I'll report back.
Im heading to a buddies shop tonight to get the car on a lift so we can check it out. Can't see much with the car only on jackstands. I'll report back.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Originally Posted by ruby76
The front cushion can make it act like that?? - I'll check
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
Went to a buddies shop last night, put it on the lift, got a good look at TA bushings, they are fine. However the rear is WAAAY out of alignment. My untrained eyes couldn't tell, but both my buddy and his co-worker noticed. I'll replace my bent strut rods with adjustable model and have them align the back. The front diff mount is good, TA bushings good etc. Hopefully this alignment is the problem. thanks to everyone who suggested possible areas to focus on.