found steering problem :-)
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Sweetwater TN
found steering problem :-)
Hopefully......I found my steering problem. I put it on the rack for a better inspection. The bottom A-frame bushings on the drivers side were gone and the ones one the passagers side were almost gone.
In the rear...I think it's called the control arm-to-spindle support....bushings are worn out or gone....spindle support strut....bushings are worn or gone also.
Hope to get these replaced first of the week. Then a four wheel alignment. Maybe I'll be back to doing the speed limit :crazy: in no time.
Can't begin to say THANKS :yesnod: to everyone who helped me with this problem. :cheers:
In the rear...I think it's called the control arm-to-spindle support....bushings are worn out or gone....spindle support strut....bushings are worn or gone also.
Hope to get these replaced first of the week. Then a four wheel alignment. Maybe I'll be back to doing the speed limit :crazy: in no time.
Can't begin to say THANKS :yesnod: to everyone who helped me with this problem. :cheers:
Le Mans Master
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From: Westfield Indiana
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Re: found steering problem :-) (Teresa)
Can't begin to say THANKS :yesnod: to everyone who helped me with this problem. :cheers:
Race Director
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From: SE Pennsylvania
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Re: found steering problem :-) (Teresa)
Teresa,
I'm glad you found your problem, But I must ask how did the shop aline the car and miss, or ever have been able to do an alinement with shot bushing. The front end must of been clunking or scraping. Also, Make sure the A-frames themselves are not damaged. This is an ULTRA IMPORTANT part. There's an awful lot of pressure on the lower A frames. Be careful and have a GOOD mechanic inspect and repair this condition. good luck. :yesnod:
I'm glad you found your problem, But I must ask how did the shop aline the car and miss, or ever have been able to do an alinement with shot bushing. The front end must of been clunking or scraping. Also, Make sure the A-frames themselves are not damaged. This is an ULTRA IMPORTANT part. There's an awful lot of pressure on the lower A frames. Be careful and have a GOOD mechanic inspect and repair this condition. good luck. :yesnod:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: found steering problem :-) (Teresa)
Teresa,
I'm glad that you found the problems. You should find a good alignment shop to do a four wheel alignment after replacing your parts. You should demand your money back from the first hacks. It is inexcusable that a shop would not catch the problems that you listed.
Jim Shea
I'm glad that you found the problems. You should find a good alignment shop to do a four wheel alignment after replacing your parts. You should demand your money back from the first hacks. It is inexcusable that a shop would not catch the problems that you listed.
Jim Shea
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Summerville SC
Re: found steering problem :-) (Teresa)
:seeya Hey, Teresa glad to see that you have gotten to the root of the problem and that's good info for the rest of us! :yesnod: Thanks :cheers: ...I thought I would post a picture of a Vette I painted back in 99' :cool: Everytime I see a pic of your Vette it reminds of the the one I painted! :D It's a Pearl White (Gold & Silver Pearl) 
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From: Sweetwater TN
Re: found steering problem :-) (Intimidator454)
Great job Intimidator 454......That's a beautiful paint job and a beautiful car
:yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod:
:yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod:
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From: Sweetwater TN
Re: found steering problem :-) (Jim Shea)
Jim & Killain,
I don't know how the first alignment guy missed all those bad bushings but even I (not knowing much about the underside of my Vette) could tell they were bad. I am learning more and more about my car because I am finding out more and more mechanic don't know what they are talking about when it comes to Vette repair. (especially around here). When I got my Vette up on the rack today and started wiggling things and saw metal rubbing where rubber should be..well....the rest was easy. I just checked everything that moved.
But I wouldn't have known where to start without you guys.
And believe me....the "alignment" guy (I use that term loosely) will know what an A-frame bushing is when I see him again. :boxing
Thanks again :) :seeya
I don't know how the first alignment guy missed all those bad bushings but even I (not knowing much about the underside of my Vette) could tell they were bad. I am learning more and more about my car because I am finding out more and more mechanic don't know what they are talking about when it comes to Vette repair. (especially around here). When I got my Vette up on the rack today and started wiggling things and saw metal rubbing where rubber should be..well....the rest was easy. I just checked everything that moved.
But I wouldn't have known where to start without you guys.
And believe me....the "alignment" guy (I use that term loosely) will know what an A-frame bushing is when I see him again. :boxing
Thanks again :) :seeya
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
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Re: found steering problem :-) (Teresa)
Sounds like a little work there, but hopefully, it'll take care of the problem.
Good Luck!
I have to agree with the other posts about the first alignment shop, it sounds like they missed something really serious.
Good Luck!
I have to agree with the other posts about the first alignment shop, it sounds like they missed something really serious.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Columbia South Carolina
Re: found steering problem :-) (Teresa)
Teresa,
I,too,hope you have located your steering problem.I also hope that when you see the "alignment" person again that you impress upon him/her the fact that they endangered your life.I am no mechanic,but imagine by your description of your cars road handling ,that a sudden lurch in the wrong direction could have been disastrous.
tankman :seeya
I,too,hope you have located your steering problem.I also hope that when you see the "alignment" person again that you impress upon him/her the fact that they endangered your life.I am no mechanic,but imagine by your description of your cars road handling ,that a sudden lurch in the wrong direction could have been disastrous.
tankman :seeya
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Austin TX
Re: found steering problem :-) (tankman)
Just a note: I had a similar problem. I spent over $3,000. to try to fix it. What it all came down to was that when NTB did the alignment, they got the steering box "off center". Please be sure that who ever does the alignment, know a little about vette steering. They had no idea and I had to do it with their own machine to explain it to them. Mine is like going down a train track now.
dde
dde
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From: Ontario
Re: found steering problem :-) (Teresa)
This will probably not be necessary for your current problem but a $30.00 investment in these stainless steel (SS) shims will do wonders for the rear alignment. Now, getting those trailing arms bolts out to install them is a task that I do not look forward to....but will do in the spring.
[Modified by paul79, 9:58 PM 1/20/2002]
[Modified by paul79, 9:58 PM 1/20/2002]