Hey gang,
I'm having some trouble with the steering or suspension in my 79 vette.
At speeds above 45 I'm getting a lot of weaving and darting. It gets scary.
I have checked the idler arm....it seems not to have play in it. I have checked the bushings...they don't seem to be worn. The ball joints seem ok. My tires are new. I had the frontend lined up just resently. When they do an alignment are they supossed to do the rearend too? Sorta align the front with the rear?
I'm really not sure how much play is ok in the idler arm or the ball joints. I wiggle them and they do move but not much.....no enough for that much of a problem....My opinion. I have replaced the steering coupler.
Any suggestions? :seeya

 

What size tires did you go with? I think wider tires have more of a tendency to get sucked into grooves & such.

Are they properly inflated (something that the tire stores rarely do)?

Yes, the rear should be aligned. You may want to ask them for the alignment sheet too, just to double check them.

Is the steering tight & just pulling or do you have play in the wheel?

Have you double checked the rag joint?

I'm not sure of the specs on the component movement (someone here will be able to give you a good idea), but the shop should have told you if any part was worn.

 

Check the simple things first:
Are your tire pressures correct.
With the tires on the ground, engine off, have someone oscillate the steering wheel.

Look at the flexible coupling. Is the gear turning with the steering column inputs? Any lost motion at the flexible coupling?

Now look at the output shaft and the pitman arm on the gear, is it moving as well? Or does there seem to be lost motion inside the gear? If there seems to be lost motion in the gear, you can try to adjust the gear while it is still in the car. I have written a complete procedure for in car gear adjustment. Go to: http://www.corvettefaq.com and look under Suspension and Steering. Look up Steering Gear Adjustment - (in vehicle) as well as two Pics.

With the engine off, you will probably see some slight side to side motion of the stud in the control valve. This would be normal. With the engine on, you should not see any stud motion.

Also check the idler arm and the tie rod pivots for any lost motion.

 

Hi Jerry,
Thanks......My tires are....Cooper Cobra Radial G/T...P255/60/R15
I have NO idea what a Rag Joint is....sorry :confused:
I don't think--when they aligned the front--they did anything to the rear.
The streering does pull just a little to the left but that's really not a problem. I can hold the wheel straight and steady and the car is still all over the road. Most of the time I'm fighting it so much just to keep it between the lines on the road. I have found a back break cylinder leaking but that shouldn't cause this...right?
Thanks,,,,Te®esa :seeya

 

Is it only at speeds above 45? I had a vibration once I got above @ 50. It was a problem with right rear wheel. Out of camber, spindle bent, and a bad wheel bearing.

 

Hi Jim,
Thanks.....I'm not to familiar with the pitman arm and the gears and thingies :confused: I will check out your website for more info. It's going back on the rack this weekend to be checkout more throughly and to fix the leaking break cylinder.
Thanks,,,,Te®esa.... :seeya

 

Hi Green 79,
It's not a vibration. It's erratic motion. Swaying and darting. Like driving on uneven pavement. You turn the steering wheel and it over steers.....you steer back and it over steers that way. I am constently fighting the steering wheel. There is some play in the steering wheel...always has been...but never like this
Thanks,,,,Te®esa :seeya

 

Teresa,
Did this problem just start? Only after the alignment? The correct way to align a Corvette is to do the front and the rear suspension.

If you look at the pictures that are part of the Steering Gear Adjustment post at corvettefaq, you will see a picture of your steering gear. You can see it in your car by standing midway at your driver side fender. With the hood open look over the fender and down. The gear is right down inside there bolted to the frame. The "thingie" that attaches the steering gear to the steering shaft coming out from the driver's compartment is the flexible coupling.

On the corvettefaq websight look up Flex Coupling Pics. This should assist you in locating and understanding the terminology for the flexible coupling.
The flexible coupling has a rubber disc that is used to isolate the driver's compartment from engine noise and harsh road feedback. The rubber disc can deteriorate with age and use.

A Chevrolet Corvette service manual would be a great assistance to you. You could refer to it and the pictures in the manual to help you learn more about your Vette.

 

Hey Jim,,,
The problem started after a minor minor accident. I was bumped in the left back corner. Just scuffed the paint was all. Could that have been enough to knock it out of alignment?
I do have a manual....a Chilton's Corvette 1963-82 repair manual.
It doesn't help much on troubleshooting.
Thanks,,,Te®esa :seeya

 

First, There is probably NOTHING wrong with your car! Leaking brake cylinders would only cause problems during braking.

What you have there is the result of good traction tires with lots of rubber so that the car now hugs the road. I had poor traction 225/70-15's on my car (like traction B temp C treadwear 500) and went to 255/60-15 BFG Comp T/A R1's that have a very sticky compound (Traction A Temp A treadwear 60) and my car immediately started to swirve when it didn't with the skinny tires. I even took the tires back to have the balance double checked and they tested correct. I even mounted the tires myself so I know a mechanic didn't screw anything up. I have found that my car only swirves around when the road is bumpy and uneven so that made me realize that the car is now following the road instead of the tires sliding over the road surface due to the momentum of the car which wants to go straight. What I'm trying to say is that if you want high performance tires then you will have to drive it constantly to keep it straight when the road has got mogals (bumps). If you switch to cheap tires then your problem will be solved, just don't try taking on ramps at 50mph like you can with the tires you have now!

My advise is to keep a good grip on the wheel when you are driving on poor roads and take on ramps at 50 and merge into traffic at 90 (just to make sure nobody rams you from behind). But, I suppose my mother would tell me to suggest that you go back to the 225/70-15's or whatever you had before with poor traction just to be safe cause you aren't supposed to take the on ramps at 50.

 

:seeya Hi, Teresa sounds to me like the rag joint...if you pop open your hood drivers side look down below the brake master cylinder and follow the steering shaft and you will see the joint in question there should be a round 1/4" thick joint connecting the steering shaft to the shaft coming out of the steering control box. :yesnod: Now while your checking that out have someone play with the steering wheel left and right :yesnod: If and when that gets replaced...that will take care of the play in your car steering. :D Next I would have the guy that did your alignment take it out for a spin and you go as well so you can really show him what your cars doing :yesnod:

 

Hi Intimidator454,
I have replaced that rubber piece between the joints twice already. It had to be replaced but didn't help the problem.
I am going to take my car back to the guy who aligned it and have him check it out again. Thanks,,,, :seeya

 

I hope you're right Rockn-Roll,,,,Thanks... :seeya

 

I got the same thing when I went from 225's to 245's, alignment and new idler arm nearly fixed the problem, but cracks and crappy roads pull it back and fourth sometimes still.

 

Teresa, if the front end all checks out OK, then suggest you have rear suspension checked for worn strut rod bushings and more importantly, worn trailing arm bushings. Believe the trailing arm bushings can cause the vette to 'dart' around on the road.

I've completely rebuilt the front end on my '81, which has the 255 60 15 optional tires on it, and it still darts around like you've described yours, but my trailing arm bushings need replacement and I'm convinced that they are my major remaining handling problem. These vettes should drive like they are on rails, even with the 255 60 size tires, so don't give up and think that there is nothing you can do to eliminate this serious(in my opinion) handling problem.

 

I am going to try having it aligned again. If that doesn't help I don't know what to do. I can't afford to just start replacing things. It goes back on the rack this weekend for another inspection. Then to the alignment shop. After that who knows???????? I just can't bare to see it sit in the garage much longer without driving it like I want to. Short trips around town just don't get it. I can't drive 30 mph's in a Vette for ever.
Thanks all..... :seeya Te®esa

 

Teresa,

Everybody posting here is on the right track and has been very helpful. I am going to try to simplify your problem (I hope!) based on my own recent experience.
I went through the process of replacing just about everything in my front suspension to try to get the "darting" and free play out of my steering.(The car was dangerous to drive on rough roads, and dangerous at speeds over 55 on good roads.) It came down to a combination of three things to correct my problem and now my steering is almost as good as new. The first thing I did is have four wheel alignment done as suggested by other forum members. Then I replaced the idler arm (not expensive). Things were much better, but I wanted to eliminate all the free play if possible. So I put a rebuilt steering box in (the black box connected to your steering shaft next to the motor, -costs about $150). My steering is super now. If your car has over 80,000 miles, you probably need to do these three things whether or not they are the main culprit of your handling problems. I'd bet a tank of gas though, that this will fix it for you. It did for me.
(PS) The people doing your alignment should inspect your tie rods, tires, idler arm, and ball joints for you before they do the alignment.
Please keep us posted as to your progress. 'Luck

'74 Turbocharged 350, "Molested to Perfection," class of '71

 

I had the same problem with my 77 It got worse over a short time. The first thing I discovered was the rag joint was GONE. Big time. It was totally ripped off on one side, replaced that and it was alot better but still not 100%. I did the rear trailing arm bushings and it improved way better. I adjusted the steering box like previously posted and it got better still. I hope this helps. :chevy

 

Well if it isn't my ole buddy Phil. I was wondering when you were going to get around to responding to my post. Thanks,,,,I will try these things and thanks to all.....your info has been most helpful. :yesnod: :seeya

 

read about your woes with steering/handling. does it feel like the front end or rear end is darting around? Also, anyone doing alignments that is familiar with corvettes would align all 4 wheels. if your alignment guys didnt do this right off the bat, i would be looking for someone else.