1981 pulls to the right
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 28
Likes: 1
From: Hart Michigan
1981 pulls to the right
My new to me 1981 pulls to the right going down the road. Take your hands off the wheel and it heads for the ditch. Stops straight though. Thinking it's the control valve, it's kind of weepy looking. And the previous owner left a rebuild kit in the glove box. Tie rod ends all seem tight. Am I heading the right direction?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
My new to me 1981 pulls to the right going down the road. Take your hands off the wheel and it heads for the ditch. Stops straight though. Thinking it's the control valve, it's kind of weepy looking. And the previous owner left a rebuild kit in the glove box. Tie rod ends all seem tight. Am I heading the right direction?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Welcome!
You may just have to adjust the centering nut on the PS control valve.
Do you know how to do that?
Do you have a service manual?
Do you know how to do that?
Do you have a service manual?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 144
From: on Barnegat Bay Joisey
If it pulls to the right without the brakes applied and the tires are properly inflated and in good condition, take it to a front end shop for a check up. Unless you have the knowledge to trouble shoot a suspension problem your better off leaving it to the pro's. JMHO
Racer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 293
Likes: 6
From: Santa Ana CA
Might seem obvious, but check the alignment.
I had really 'darty' oversensitive steering when I first got my 81. I hated it. Drove like crap. Any little groove in the road really pulled the wheel, and since the roads tend to crown the way they do, the pull was often to the right. I decided to change my power steering box to a Boregson aftermarket steering box. That along with an alignment helped quite a bit. There are rack and pinion kits out there as well, but the Borgeson was significantly less work and money.
I had really 'darty' oversensitive steering when I first got my 81. I hated it. Drove like crap. Any little groove in the road really pulled the wheel, and since the roads tend to crown the way they do, the pull was often to the right. I decided to change my power steering box to a Boregson aftermarket steering box. That along with an alignment helped quite a bit. There are rack and pinion kits out there as well, but the Borgeson was significantly less work and money.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 28
Likes: 1
From: Hart Michigan
It's a gradual pull , light left hand pressure counteracts it . No service manual yet, hoping Santa brings one. Tires don't show abnormal wear. Centering adjustment might be the ticket. An alignment will be in the cars future.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Why wait for a book? Everything is on youtube!
Here's a video on 'how to adjust the PSCV' (Post4) and excellent advise from Jim Shea (Post6).
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html
Hope this helps.
Pete.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html
Hope this helps.
Pete.
