prob with handing
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 70
Likes: 1
From: corpus christi tx
prob with handing
my 72 is all over the road, i already ruled out the alignment,true it does need one...i will be driving and have to really pay attontion, the wheel jurks both ways with no warning at all.
one of my friends told me to change out the rear barrings, thats way the car is going everywhere, is he right?????????... i would hate to spend that money on something thats not the prob
please help me decide what to do for i can fix this car the right way
one of my friends told me to change out the rear barrings, thats way the car is going everywhere, is he right?????????... i would hate to spend that money on something thats not the prob
please help me decide what to do for i can fix this car the right way
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I always love all these "friends" who are experts. The rear wheel bearings are probably the least of your worries. Check the front end first. The tie rod ends, the ball joints, and the control arm bushings. If these have never been replaced they are probably all in need of replacement. Check the rag joint on the steering column these do go bad. The steering box could need a rebuild. If all these are good go to the rear trailing arm bushings, the strut rod bushings. There is plenty on the Vette suspension that can be worn. If your rear wheel bearings are bad you would here it. they will be making noise but not usually the cause for poor handling.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 70
Likes: 1
From: corpus christi tx
I always love all these "friends" who are experts. The rear wheel bearings are probably the least of your worries. Check the front end first. The tie rod ends, the ball joints, and the control arm bushings. If these have never been replaced they are probably all in need of replacement. Check the rag joint on the steering column these do go bad. The steering box could need a rebuild. If all these are good go to the rear trailing arm bushings, the strut rod bushings. There is plenty on the Vette suspension that can be worn. If your rear wheel bearings are bad you would here it. they will be making noise but not usually the cause for poor handling.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
My rear wheel bearings finally went bad during a driving event, and they made a ticking sound all the way home. However, it didn't result in horrible handling.
Look at all the joints first. These cars are old, and if not well maintained will have alot of slop in the suspension. Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
I agree completely with Gordonm and TheSkunkWorks...
The only thing I would add is to check the rag-joint and the idler arm first! Because they are the easiest and about the least expensive to change... and they're also the two most often overlooked...
Good luck... GUSTO
The only thing I would add is to check the rag-joint and the idler arm first! Because they are the easiest and about the least expensive to change... and they're also the two most often overlooked...
Good luck... GUSTO
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Advanced
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 50
Likes: 1
From: So. Cal. CA
with the above, but also, what about your tires? I can't tell from the pic in your profile what shape they're in. If they've been on there awhile . . .When I bought my car, it handled similar to what you describe. Seemed like it wanted to follow just about any imperfection in the road surface. When I took it to get aligned, they said they wouldn't because the frame was cracked near the front crossmember. When I went to get that fixed, they found problems with some bushings, a ball joint, and the power steering (explained one leak I had seen). After that was fixed, the car settled down somewhat, but still wasn't what I would call decent -- and I wasn't expecting the same as my DD, as I know automotive technology has improved over the intervening years.
I eventually got around to replacing the tires that were on the car when I bought it. They didn't look bad on the car/wheels, but I wish I would have taken my camera along to photograph what the mechanic showed me when they were off
Things were much better with the new Indy 500's.Mike
P.S. Also, when I got around to replacing the wheels, I found one more surprise: three were 15 X 8, but one was 15 X 8.5.