loose steering
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: West Point MS
loose steering
I just purchased my first C3 and upon the drive home I noticed that the steering had a few inches of slack in it. The suspension has been redone on the front with new ball joints and tie rods. Does anyone have any idea what and where the problem is? I don't know if I should get a new steering gear box or if it may be in the steering column itself. Is there any way I can check to see where the problem is? Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Lots of possibilities.... One of the most likely is also one of the least expensive--the idler arm. The easiest way to assess steering 'slop' is to put the car on jack stands and get underneath it. Have someone in the car turn the wheel back and forth; everything in the steering system should work together at the same time. If something is 'lagging' other parts, that's an indication of where the slop is coming from. Watch the steering wheel shaft turning (input to the steering box) and see if the box 'output' is turning with the input. Likewise all the steering arms moving at the same time. Ball joints are best tested by checking play in them by flexing wheels (again, while on jack stands) from top-to-bottom of each front wheel and from side-to-side. A little 'play' in ball joints is OK; you'll know if it is excessive. My suspicion is that the steering box and the idler arm are the primary culprits.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 91
From: Leander TX
I just read an article in one of the corvette mags that went through this. It was the rag joint that was causing the problem. Made the car dart around and feel sloppy. My car is doing the same thing so I'm going to start there.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 0
From: San Diego California
This month's Corvette Fever magazine has the rag joint article. I remember bringing my C3 home several years ago and having the same concerns with loose steering- very scarry. One of the first things I did was to get the steering box rebuilt and replace the rag joint. Check the idler arm too. After the fix, you'll still have the fun of being on top of the wheel while driving the C3- its no modern cruiser that will drive itself.
