Rear pushing right
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Rear pushing right
I have just purchased a 1981, 4-speed. When I apply power or shift and gun it, the rear wants to push hard to the right. The wheels aren't losing traction. It will even do it at 55-65 mph if you step on it. What could be causing this?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by 44bones
I have just purchased a 1981, 4-speed. When I apply power or shift and gun it, the rear wants to push hard to the right. The wheels aren't losing traction. It will even do it at 55-65 mph if you step on it. What could be causing this?
you will find quite a few posts about it.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 552
Likes: 2
From: Waynesboro GA
Get some new trailing arm bushings and some long metal sawzall blades, a 12 pack of beer and lots of patience. Its worth the agrivation, your car will drive like new..My 81 did the same thing, at 50 or faster, you let off the gas and the car feels like it tries to pass itself..
Lots of good post about fixing this problem..good luck.
Lots of good post about fixing this problem..good luck.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Check your trailing arms for rust and make sure they are not flexing or bending under the torque-and just for fun check your front upper a arm shims to see they are all still there-I had one that I kept looking in the back and it turned out the shims in front fell out-the front was moving and I was compensating by turning wheel but it sure felt like it was in the back-darndist thing I ever felt-Ive had others with frt shims gone and they just clunked
Pro
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 538
Likes: 7
From: Johnsonville Wi
whacky handling
Yes, look at the bushings - but you may have simply lost some shims on one side. This happened to me a few years back and yes, the feeling is spooky. I was farting around on a cruise and got some serious wheel hop on a wet road. Luckily I had noted what shims were in there on the last alignment and just replaced them (they're various thicknesses, so you have to note that too.) Mine are now captured and can't fall out.
Daffy
Daffy
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 2,581
Likes: 14
From: Tolar Texas
Sloppy rear wheel bearings could be a contributor.
If the rear of your car sits too high and or your half shafts are not close to level with the ground it could indicate that a previous owner has installed an aftermarket spring that was manufactured with the wrong load height, (too much arch), thus causing your half shafts to be too far off level. When you accelerate the rear squats, changing the angle of the half shafts which may cause a slight toe-out condition under acceleration.
I’m just tossing some ideas out there. My ’80 exhibits some of the same characteristics. I think it might be due to my rear wheel bearing being a bit loose. I have replaced the O.E. trailing arm bushings with polyurethane bushings but it didn’t help.
If the rear of your car sits too high and or your half shafts are not close to level with the ground it could indicate that a previous owner has installed an aftermarket spring that was manufactured with the wrong load height, (too much arch), thus causing your half shafts to be too far off level. When you accelerate the rear squats, changing the angle of the half shafts which may cause a slight toe-out condition under acceleration.
I’m just tossing some ideas out there. My ’80 exhibits some of the same characteristics. I think it might be due to my rear wheel bearing being a bit loose. I have replaced the O.E. trailing arm bushings with polyurethane bushings but it didn’t help.
