Loose steering
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 121
Likes: 2
From: Middletown Delaware
Loose steering
When driving my 68 the the steering feels like it is loose almost like it is floating. The ball joints, tie rod ends, and the A arm bushings were replaced about a year ago. I don't know if the steering box is original but I can not feel any play when ths car is stopped. This makes the car difficult to drive. Any ideas?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
If you tighten up that screw improperly, you will permanently damage otherwise good gears. The box needs to be rebuilt if it's sloppy. Adjusting that screw will act like a band aid on a broken arm. It'll work for a little bit, but it's still broken.
PM a forum member here, GTR1999, as he rebuilds these, and is about as good as it gets. He will walk you through it all, and give you the best advice to his knowledge.
Here's the PM link to GTR1999:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/priv...o=newpm&u=2241
PM a forum member here, GTR1999, as he rebuilds these, and is about as good as it gets. He will walk you through it all, and give you the best advice to his knowledge.
Here's the PM link to GTR1999:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/priv...o=newpm&u=2241
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
Be sure to check your flexible coupler (rag joint) too. There is an excellent article on this subject titled "Flexible Couplers, Everything You Ever Wanted To Know and More" at http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com courtesy of Jim Shea. Read the whole article. I replaced everything you mentioned too and still had a "loose" feel to the steering. Replaced the Rag Joint and everything tightened right up. Don't be tempted get one of those el cheapo repair kits for ten bucks, spend the $60 to $80 dollars it will cost you to get a genuine Saginaw Coupler.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
If you tighten up that screw improperly, you will permanently damage otherwise good gears. The box needs to be rebuilt if it's sloppy. Adjusting that screw will act like a band aid on a broken arm. It'll work for a little bit, but it's still broken.
PM a forum member here, GTR1999, as he rebuilds these, and is about as good as it gets. He will walk you through it all, and give you the best advice to his knowledge.
Here's the PM link to GTR1999:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/priv...o=newpm&u=2241
PM a forum member here, GTR1999, as he rebuilds these, and is about as good as it gets. He will walk you through it all, and give you the best advice to his knowledge.
Here's the PM link to GTR1999:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/priv...o=newpm&u=2241
It's not just a matter of tightening the screw.
The correct adjustment procedure requires the use of an inch-pound torque wrench and the proper technique.... with the pitman arm or control valve temporarily removed from the gear box. If you over-tighten it, you ruin the gears.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
When driving my 68 the the steering feels like it is loose almost like it is floating. The ball joints, tie rod ends, and the A arm bushings were replaced about a year ago. I don't know if the steering box is original but I can not feel any play when ths car is stopped. This makes the car difficult to drive. Any ideas?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
I got mine from Davies Corvette in New Port Richey, FL www.corvetteparts.com. They sell an import rag joint for $39.95 and an OEM steering coupler made by Saginaw for $59.95. For only twenty bucks difference why take a chance? I'm sure you can still get one through GM Parts Direct or a Local GM dealer too as well as other sources. There are two different ones for the C-3 though, one for the 68/ early 69 (PN # 7806391) and one for late 69 on up (PN #7818568). The later one has a flat on the flange so it will mate up to the flat on the input shaft. The earlier one does not. The two couplers are not interchangeable (thanks again to Jim Shea's steering papers at www.corvettefaq.com).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
It's not just a matter of tightening the screw.
The correct adjustment procedure requires the use of an inch-pound torque wrench and the proper technique.... with the pitman arm or control valve temporarily removed from the gear box. If you over-tighten it, you ruin the gears.
Anyone who claims he can do the job right with the pitman arm on and without a 25 or 50 in-lb full scale torque wrench is fooling himself.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
Just a word of caution concerning flexible couplings. There have been several Corvette owners that have reported that their steering wheel was upside down when they installed a new flexible coupling. The problem is that the flange on the flexible coupling has been machined incorrectly. The flat is machined on the wrong side of the flange bore.
I am quite sure that it is not the OEM flexible couplings that were originally manufactured by Saginaw that are incorrect.
When you install the flexible coupling, your steering gear should be right on center. This means that the flat on the input shaft should be right at 12 o'clock (looking at the input shaft from the driver position.) When you install the flexible coupling, the stop pins should be at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions. The big shoulder bolt (3/8-24) should be at the 9 o'clock position, the smaller shoulder bolt (5/16-24) should be at 3 o'clock. The pinch bolt that attatches the flange to the gear input shaft should be vertical with the bolt head sticking straight up. (You should be able to tighten the bolt by reaching over the front fender.)
If I get a good picture of the incorrect flexible coupling, I will post them.
Jim
I am quite sure that it is not the OEM flexible couplings that were originally manufactured by Saginaw that are incorrect.
When you install the flexible coupling, your steering gear should be right on center. This means that the flat on the input shaft should be right at 12 o'clock (looking at the input shaft from the driver position.) When you install the flexible coupling, the stop pins should be at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions. The big shoulder bolt (3/8-24) should be at the 9 o'clock position, the smaller shoulder bolt (5/16-24) should be at 3 o'clock. The pinch bolt that attatches the flange to the gear input shaft should be vertical with the bolt head sticking straight up. (You should be able to tighten the bolt by reaching over the front fender.)
If I get a good picture of the incorrect flexible coupling, I will post them.
Jim
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Be sure to check your flexible coupler (rag joint) too. There is an excellent article on this subject titled "Flexible Couplers, Everything You Ever Wanted To Know and More" at http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com courtesy of Jim Shea. Read the whole article. I replaced everything you mentioned too and still had a "loose" feel to the steering. Replaced the Rag Joint and everything tightened right up. Don't be tempted get one of those el cheapo repair kits for ten bucks, spend the $60 to $80 dollars it will cost you to get a genuine Saginaw Coupler.
Just a word of caution concerning flexible couplings. There have been several Corvette owners that have reported that their steering wheel was upside down when they installed a new flexible coupling. The problem is that the flange on the flexible coupling has been machined incorrectly. The flat is machined on the wrong side of the flange bore.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07