manual steering issues
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
manual steering issues
69 corvette with manual steering, steering is very heavy and won't come back to center on it's own after a turn. Used to have standard column, changed to tilt column, also front end was recently worked on, steering box had new seals and pitman arm installed and new tie rod ends were installed. Steering was the same before all changes and after.
Is there a steering damper on the 69 corvette? I can't see that there is on my car, I found brackets to mount one from mid america along with a diagram showing that there is one in the manual steering setup, but I don't see it on my car?
If there is no damper, what else could be causing this problem? I think the steering box may need rebuilding with new gears, could the steering box cause enough drag to prevent the wheels from centering themselves when rolling forward?
Could the column be the problem, I didn't notice any change from standard to tilt swap in the steering so both would have to be bad.
What else could cause this?
Is there a steering damper on the 69 corvette? I can't see that there is on my car, I found brackets to mount one from mid america along with a diagram showing that there is one in the manual steering setup, but I don't see it on my car?
If there is no damper, what else could be causing this problem? I think the steering box may need rebuilding with new gears, could the steering box cause enough drag to prevent the wheels from centering themselves when rolling forward?
Could the column be the problem, I didn't notice any change from standard to tilt swap in the steering so both would have to be bad.
What else could cause this?
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
69 corvette with manual steering, steering is very heavy and won't come back to center on it's own after a turn. Used to have standard column, changed to tilt column, also front end was recently worked on, steering box had new seals and pitman arm installed and new tie rod ends were installed. Steering was the same before all changes and after.
Is there a steering damper on the 69 corvette? I can't see that there is on my car, I found brackets to mount one from mid america along with a diagram showing that there is one in the manual steering setup, but I don't see it on my car?
If there is no damper, what else could be causing this problem? I think the steering box may need rebuilding with new gears, could the steering box cause enough drag to prevent the wheels from centering themselves when rolling forward?
Could the column be the problem, I didn't notice any change from standard to tilt swap in the steering so both would have to be bad.
What else could cause this?
Is there a steering damper on the 69 corvette? I can't see that there is on my car, I found brackets to mount one from mid america along with a diagram showing that there is one in the manual steering setup, but I don't see it on my car?
If there is no damper, what else could be causing this problem? I think the steering box may need rebuilding with new gears, could the steering box cause enough drag to prevent the wheels from centering themselves when rolling forward?
Could the column be the problem, I didn't notice any change from standard to tilt swap in the steering so both would have to be bad.
What else could cause this?
Have you checked the lash in the gear box? I doubt the column is the issue.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 596
Likes: 6
From: Irving Texas
"Steering is heavy and wont come back to center on its own"
It's not the box or the column........I bet its either caster, camber, toe-in, toe-out issue.
You mentioned changing out the tie rods, etc.
1)did you have a professional wheel alignment after these changes?
2)did you have the professional center the steering wheel when he did the alignment?
It's not the box or the column........I bet its either caster, camber, toe-in, toe-out issue.
You mentioned changing out the tie rods, etc.
1)did you have a professional wheel alignment after these changes?
2)did you have the professional center the steering wheel when he did the alignment?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
I'm leaning toward the steering box, the car was aligned after the work was done, I have the sheet showing what everything was set to. I don't think it's an alignment issue, car goes straight down the road and even though I don't have the sheet in front of me I looked at it before and nothing stood out to me, I'll compare to the specs on VP&B's site to make sure. I think the box needs to be rebuilt anyway, there is way too much slop in it, probably an inch or more of play around center.
Anyone know if GTR1999 is on this site? I'm not a member on digital corvettes and couldn't find contact info for him. http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...ad.php?t=76773
Anyone know if GTR1999 is on this site? I'm not a member on digital corvettes and couldn't find contact info for him. http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...ad.php?t=76773
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
If you have that much slop then I doubt it's your box unless it is completely dry inside, which can happen.
Best is to jack up the front, remove the pitman arm connection and test each section separately.
Best is to jack up the front, remove the pitman arm connection and test each section separately.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Humm... something has to be binding it up or there is an alignment issue.
Willcox
