someone I can trust
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 5
From: Nashville TN
Re: someone I can trust (A78Corvette)
There is a bushing that attaches the nose of the rear differential to the frame of the car. These do wear out. When they do wear out they make the car feel veryy skitish, especially on the freeway. Lane changes can get wo be scary things as the car feels that is not going to stop changing lanes. The bushing is only about $25 and is easy to install, with the car on the hoist a mechanic could check it out very easily.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,607
Likes: 0
From: Clarksville,Tn,USA TN
Re: someone I can trust (A78Corvette)
Teresa,
I have a set of trailing arm bushings you can have and most likely need them anyway if the car is swaying. I would change them and then get a 4 wheel alignment. that should make a change in handling concidering you already have done the a-arms. A good front end kit seems to be in order ie..ball joints, tie rods and such. Some good vendors on the sidebar here and reasonably priced too. Any good general mech. shop can install the items in a short time and then a good 4 wheel alignment. What kind of skills do you posess? Do a search for members using the zip code feature to find some close to you.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/ziplocator/locator.php
Many others hang out in the other sections and may be just down the road from you.
Neil in Tenn
[Modified by Nomad78SA, 8:17 PM 3/8/2002]
I have a set of trailing arm bushings you can have and most likely need them anyway if the car is swaying. I would change them and then get a 4 wheel alignment. that should make a change in handling concidering you already have done the a-arms. A good front end kit seems to be in order ie..ball joints, tie rods and such. Some good vendors on the sidebar here and reasonably priced too. Any good general mech. shop can install the items in a short time and then a good 4 wheel alignment. What kind of skills do you posess? Do a search for members using the zip code feature to find some close to you.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/ziplocator/locator.php
Many others hang out in the other sections and may be just down the road from you.
Neil in Tenn
[Modified by Nomad78SA, 8:17 PM 3/8/2002]
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
From: Glacier County mt
Re: someone I can trust (Nomad78SA)
Go to a good body shop - ask them for some references for three alignment and frame shops in your local area. Go see these shops and get their opinions and estimates.
You could have a simple problem with the hydraulic switch valve that actuates that antiquated hyraulic booster ram on the power Vette's steering. Look at the simple stuff first, idler arms, power steering ram / valve, ball joints, steering rag joint, steering box etc. All the usual front end stuff that a good frame / suspension man would understand.
My C3's were a real mess when I first bought them. They needed so much work that I opted for Vette Brakes and Suspension Performance Plus system. We replaced all suspension (front & rear) and steering - and the cars now handle like a dream. It wasn't cheap - but it was worth the expense!
Vette Brakes and Suspension my be able to refer you to one of their resellers / installer in your area..
Also check to see if your front sway bar is properly connected to the frame and the lower A-Arms..
Best of Luck - DON'T GIVE UP!
:cheers: :cool: :cheers:
[Modified by shawn_cake, 7:35 PM 3/8/2002]
You could have a simple problem with the hydraulic switch valve that actuates that antiquated hyraulic booster ram on the power Vette's steering. Look at the simple stuff first, idler arms, power steering ram / valve, ball joints, steering rag joint, steering box etc. All the usual front end stuff that a good frame / suspension man would understand.
My C3's were a real mess when I first bought them. They needed so much work that I opted for Vette Brakes and Suspension Performance Plus system. We replaced all suspension (front & rear) and steering - and the cars now handle like a dream. It wasn't cheap - but it was worth the expense!
Vette Brakes and Suspension my be able to refer you to one of their resellers / installer in your area..
Also check to see if your front sway bar is properly connected to the frame and the lower A-Arms..
Best of Luck - DON'T GIVE UP!
:cheers: :cool: :cheers:
[Modified by shawn_cake, 7:35 PM 3/8/2002]
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,631
Likes: 14
From: Fountain Hills AZ
Re: someone I can trust (Teresa)
May not be your problem but trailing arm bushings are always suspect in any C2/3 Vette and your symptoms match. Worn bushings allow for excessive movement of the trailing arms which results in castor and toe changes that occur under different conditions. Sitting still, no problem is obvious but once torque is applied one rear wheel is allowed to move forward of the other. The end result is the rear wheels trying to push the car in a different direction than the fronts. If the problem is more noticable under accelleration or decelleration, that's where I'd looking. If the problem is present under all conditions, I'd take a close look at the tires.
Regarding mechanics shying away from helping with your problem: Corvette IRS is alien to most techs and they are doing you, and themselves, a favor by not working on it. Try a shop that does only alignments or one that specializes in Vette.
Regarding mechanics shying away from helping with your problem: Corvette IRS is alien to most techs and they are doing you, and themselves, a favor by not working on it. Try a shop that does only alignments or one that specializes in Vette.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,660
Likes: 3
From: South Central Louisiana
St. Jude Contributor
Re: someone I can trust (Vetterodder)
From the look of your pic, it appears the rear is too low. Is your spring broken or weak? Mine was the same way when I got it
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Sweetwater TN
Re: someone I can trust (71,454,4spd)
Hey VetteRodder,
I always thought the rearend sat down too low but the spring "seems" ok.
Shocks are new.......I'm still checking things out
Thanks so much,
Te®esa :seeya :chevy
I always thought the rearend sat down too low but the spring "seems" ok.
Shocks are new.......I'm still checking things out
Thanks so much,
Te®esa :seeya :chevy
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Sweetwater TN
Re: someone I can trust (Nomad78SA)
NEIL,
Thanks for the Trailing Arm Bushings but you don't have to give them to me--I will pay for them.....no problem
About my "skills"....I have been around cars all my life....My Dad's a foreign car mechanic. I always liked the American cars better then foreign cars but Dad always had time to show me the basics. Now he is retired so I try not to bother him to much with work just questions. I have re-build several 350 Chevy engines and some minor work on Fords,Mercurys,etc. But Love those Chevys. This is a first for me on suspension work. My first Vette too. (BTW)
I've had it for about 3 years and no problems like this until I got bumped in the back end---just bumped...paint just got scuffed...waxed right out.
I'm checking out each possibility. It just seems to take me so long to check it out and I still don't even trust myself with what is OK and what is too much but thanks to all you great people I am still trying....You're the best
:yesnod: :yesnod:
:seeya THANKS
Te®esa
Thanks for the Trailing Arm Bushings but you don't have to give them to me--I will pay for them.....no problem
About my "skills"....I have been around cars all my life....My Dad's a foreign car mechanic. I always liked the American cars better then foreign cars but Dad always had time to show me the basics. Now he is retired so I try not to bother him to much with work just questions. I have re-build several 350 Chevy engines and some minor work on Fords,Mercurys,etc. But Love those Chevys. This is a first for me on suspension work. My first Vette too. (BTW)
I've had it for about 3 years and no problems like this until I got bumped in the back end---just bumped...paint just got scuffed...waxed right out.
I'm checking out each possibility. It just seems to take me so long to check it out and I still don't even trust myself with what is OK and what is too much but thanks to all you great people I am still trying....You're the best
:yesnod: :yesnod:
:seeya THANKS
Te®esa
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,036
Likes: 2
From: Westfield Indiana
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Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: someone I can trust (Teresa)
Teresa,
The half-shafts are the small drive shafts that go from the differential out to the rear wheels.
All of these guys have good ideas, I would do like the one guy said and take it to Byrd's. Sounds like they could even check to make sure your frame was straight.
The half-shafts are the small drive shafts that go from the differential out to the rear wheels.
All of these guys have good ideas, I would do like the one guy said and take it to Byrd's. Sounds like they could even check to make sure your frame was straight.