1979 Corvette (Pulls to one side)
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 30
From: Weslaco Texas
1979 Corvette (Pulls to one side)
Hello everyone!
I am a proud owner of a 1979 Corvette with some modifications done to it so far.
My problem started as of 3-4 months ago to where the car would pull when you press the gas (or stomp) to the left (driver) and pull to the right (passenger) when you let off the gas or press the brake.
Since then I checked all 4 wheel bearings by tilting the wheels up & down and side to side while up on a jack of course, and only the passenger rear wheel was wobbly so I replaced it with new bearings & races. They are all sturdy now.
Then I test drove it and it still was doing it, so we noticed the (driver) trailing arm bushing was shot, we replaced it. I test drove it yesterday & today and I can press the gas and stomp on it, now it doesn't pull much to the left, sometimes not even a bit but when I let off the gas it pulls left and feels ugly!! Like i'm about to crash.
I will post a video of it after lunch today so you can see how it pulls to a side....
Any help or diagnostics would be helpful and greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading.
I am a proud owner of a 1979 Corvette with some modifications done to it so far.
My problem started as of 3-4 months ago to where the car would pull when you press the gas (or stomp) to the left (driver) and pull to the right (passenger) when you let off the gas or press the brake.
Since then I checked all 4 wheel bearings by tilting the wheels up & down and side to side while up on a jack of course, and only the passenger rear wheel was wobbly so I replaced it with new bearings & races. They are all sturdy now.
Then I test drove it and it still was doing it, so we noticed the (driver) trailing arm bushing was shot, we replaced it. I test drove it yesterday & today and I can press the gas and stomp on it, now it doesn't pull much to the left, sometimes not even a bit but when I let off the gas it pulls left and feels ugly!! Like i'm about to crash.
I will post a video of it after lunch today so you can see how it pulls to a side....
Any help or diagnostics would be helpful and greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
go to the back end and check all the trailing arm bushings and the strut bushings also check the axle stub play. rear steer may be kicking in due to poor rear end geometry caused by worn parts.
also how bad are your front shocks? these cars go through alot of steering geometry changes as the front end picks up and the rear end squats down
also how bad are your front shocks? these cars go through alot of steering geometry changes as the front end picks up and the rear end squats down
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk Virginia
there is a power valve for the power steeing, if you rev the engine and the wheels **** to one side. you need to adjust the powervalve, it is in the front of the car behind the driver side tire, pop off the cap and turn the screw left or right you will know right away if you are going in the right direction. Lift the front of the car and watch the front wheels, are you move the vale adjustment srew your wheels will turn you need to center the vale then you will be good.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
there is a power valve for the power steeing, if you rev the engine and the wheels **** to one side. you need to adjust the powervalve, it is in the front of the car behind the driver side tire, pop off the cap and turn the screw left or right you will know right away if you are going in the right direction. Lift the front of the car and watch the front wheels, are you move the vale adjustment srew your wheels will turn you need to center the vale then you will be good.
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 144
Likes: 3
From: Delmarva Peninsula
I've never noticed our '79 pull to the left under acceleration but it does pull to the right under hard braking. Even with new brakes it still does it.
My wife has had the car since 1983 and I met her in 1990. She says it has always done that, so we just accept it as a quirk that makes a Vette a Vette.
Chappie
My wife has had the car since 1983 and I met her in 1990. She says it has always done that, so we just accept it as a quirk that makes a Vette a Vette.
Chappie
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 30
From: Weslaco Texas
my mechanic says my other trailing arm bushing is shot so I bought one, but now im waiting on him to install it cause he's got plenty of vehicles to work on right now and I don't feel too confident on doing it after hearing them tell me it was a PITA to do ... so yeah I'll update you all as soon as it's installed.
Chappie - thats not normal. My 79 has always gone straight as an arrow. It is quiet scary if you floor it and when you let off the gas or brakes at fast speeds so yeah NOT VERY SAFE!
Chappie - thats not normal. My 79 has always gone straight as an arrow. It is quiet scary if you floor it and when you let off the gas or brakes at fast speeds so yeah NOT VERY SAFE!
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 30
From: Weslaco Texas
My brother-in-law finally installed my trailing arm bushing and it fixes the problem. Both trailing arms were replaced cause they were both shot and one rear wheel bearing since the wheel had play.
It drives straight like an arrow now!!!
It drives straight like an arrow now!!!
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 25
One of my parking brake shoes were tight, but would still turn with the engine. So it kept one wheel loaded all the time. The other........not. Hit the gas, and it would go to the loose side. let off........ and it would go to the tight side. Go pull the brake handle and see if it improves. ramair..................
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro Tennessee
I have a '79 as well and the other day I started it up and the steering wheel automatically started turning to the right. I had the control valve replaced about 6 months ago but it never felt like I had good power steering. This is my first Vette so I am learning that it's only power assist. Since the day it did the auto turn when I started the car it's been driving like the assist is gone and it pulls very hard to the left at all times. To the point I'm concerned something bad might happen. It's my daily driver and I just want to feel safe and get it fixed. I checked the power steering reservoir last night and there's plenty of fluid in there and no leaks. Also, I jacked up the front end, removed the cap, started the car, and turned the wheels back and forth 20 times to get out any air if there was any. Still the same. nothing has changed. Any thoughts?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 198
From: Meriden CT
I have a '79 as well and the other day I started it up and the steering wheel automatically started turning to the right. I had the control valve replaced about 6 months ago but it never felt like I had good power steering. This is my first Vette so I am learning that it's only power assist. Since the day it did the auto turn when I started the car it's been driving like the assist is gone and it pulls very hard to the left at all times. To the point I'm concerned something bad might happen. It's my daily driver and I just want to feel safe and get it fixed. I checked the power steering reservoir last night and there's plenty of fluid in there and no leaks. Also, I jacked up the front end, removed the cap, started the car, and turned the wheels back and forth 20 times to get out any air if there was any. Still the same. nothing has changed. Any thoughts?
Last edited by SH-60B; Oct 10, 2018 at 12:34 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro Tennessee
Unfortunately I tried that last night and the wheels stayed straight. They didn’t pull either way when lifted and running. I think my power steering control valve is just bad. From everything I’ve read it looks that way.