Steering help; 77 PS
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 603
Likes: 2
From: Illinois, USA
Steering help; 77 PS
I tooke the Vette for a nice long drive today and a couple of things appeared that I want to flush out of the system (they are very different so I'm posting them separately).
The steering on the car seems VERY touchy ...hard to keep it in a straight line. Any ruts and so forth can cause the car to drive, and a light touch of the steering brings it back fast. I'm not trying to say the steering is loose -- it may be overly responsive at highway speeds; nothing you'd notice driving down the street. It can/will drift in both directions.
I just had the tires balanced, and I've had it aligned recently.
Could this be a sign of the valve going bad or something else that might be showing its age? Is there an adjustment that I could consider? All in all, it makes for a very challenging drive at times.
Thanks in advance,
Brian.
The steering on the car seems VERY touchy ...hard to keep it in a straight line. Any ruts and so forth can cause the car to drive, and a light touch of the steering brings it back fast. I'm not trying to say the steering is loose -- it may be overly responsive at highway speeds; nothing you'd notice driving down the street. It can/will drift in both directions.
I just had the tires balanced, and I've had it aligned recently.
Could this be a sign of the valve going bad or something else that might be showing its age? Is there an adjustment that I could consider? All in all, it makes for a very challenging drive at times.
Thanks in advance,
Brian.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by C3nMe
I tooke the Vette for a nice long drive today and a couple of things appeared that I want to flush out of the system (they are very different so I'm posting them separately).
The steering on the car seems VERY touchy ...hard to keep it in a straight line. Any ruts and so forth can cause the car to drive, and a light touch of the steering brings it back fast. I'm not trying to say the steering is loose -- it may be overly responsive at highway speeds; nothing you'd notice driving down the street. It can/will drift in both directions.
I just had the tires balanced, and I've had it aligned recently.
Could this be a sign of the valve going bad or something else that might be showing its age? Is there an adjustment that I could consider? All in all, it makes for a very challenging drive at times.
Thanks in advance,
Brian.
The steering on the car seems VERY touchy ...hard to keep it in a straight line. Any ruts and so forth can cause the car to drive, and a light touch of the steering brings it back fast. I'm not trying to say the steering is loose -- it may be overly responsive at highway speeds; nothing you'd notice driving down the street. It can/will drift in both directions.
I just had the tires balanced, and I've had it aligned recently.
Could this be a sign of the valve going bad or something else that might be showing its age? Is there an adjustment that I could consider? All in all, it makes for a very challenging drive at times.
Thanks in advance,
Brian.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 603
Likes: 2
From: Illinois, USA
Originally Posted by mirrorfinishman
Do the front 'sway bar bushings' look a little worn? If so, they are very easy to replace at a very minimal cost.
I'm hoping that upgrade should have resolved any loseness in those particular parts.
Brian.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 603
Likes: 2
From: Illinois, USA
Originally Posted by PhotoVette1
New tie end rods and idler arm will make a world of difference.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 603
Likes: 2
From: Illinois, USA
Originally Posted by dwncchs
You can try adjusting the valve
Brian.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,503
Likes: 2
From: Raleigh NC
Originally Posted by C3nMe
Does the service manual outline a procedure on how to adjust that valve to get specific results? I wouldn't want to just adjust it with the hopes of making it better or worse? Do you know of an FAQ or paper on that?
Brian.
Brian.
Disconnect the shaft of the power steering cylinder at the point where it attaches to the frame. Turn on the car and see if the shaft moves--if it does it needs adjusting--usually doesn't in my experience.
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by C3nMe
Does the service manual outline a procedure on how to adjust that valve to get specific results? I wouldn't want to just adjust it with the hopes of making it better or worse?
Brian.
Brian.
It should not be necessary to adjust the steering control valve for the conditions you have mentioned.
The only adjustment on the control valve is to balance the steering, so that it returns to a centered positioned. That is the only adjustment.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Eagle Wi
Originally Posted by C3nMe
I tooke the Vette for a nice long drive today and a couple of things appeared that I want to flush out of the system (they are very different so I'm posting them separately).
The steering on the car seems VERY touchy ...hard to keep it in a straight line. Any ruts and so forth can cause the car to drive, and a light touch of the steering brings it back fast. I'm not trying to say the steering is loose -- it may be overly responsive at highway speeds; nothing you'd notice driving down the street. It can/will drift in both directions.
I just had the tires balanced, and I've had it aligned recently.
Could this be a sign of the valve going bad or something else that might be showing its age? Is there an adjustment that I could consider? All in all, it makes for a very challenging drive at times.
Thanks in advance,
Brian.
The steering on the car seems VERY touchy ...hard to keep it in a straight line. Any ruts and so forth can cause the car to drive, and a light touch of the steering brings it back fast. I'm not trying to say the steering is loose -- it may be overly responsive at highway speeds; nothing you'd notice driving down the street. It can/will drift in both directions.
I just had the tires balanced, and I've had it aligned recently.
Could this be a sign of the valve going bad or something else that might be showing its age? Is there an adjustment that I could consider? All in all, it makes for a very challenging drive at times.
Thanks in advance,
Brian.
You made a comment that you had it aligned recently. If they did not get the toe in correct the car could get darty. A little more toe in might correct that. I wonder if they screwed it up. I remember I had the same problem and about an 1/8 deg more of toe and it worked wonders.