More caster would stabilize the steering. Please post the alignment results.
Twitchy handling.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Bowling Green KY
Twitchy handling.
My 76 has had every suspension component replaced. A good 4 wheel alignment was done. And yet, the car feels very light in the front end. More like Cadillac steering as opposed to a Corvette. Any small input to the steering wheel makes the car feel nearly out of control at highway speeds. It wants to wander. Going into a corner hot makes it feel like the rear end want to break loose.
The only thing not replaced are the rear cross member bushings. Any ideas? I'm stumped.
The only thing not replaced are the rear cross member bushings. Any ideas? I'm stumped.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 183
From: Port St. Lucie Fl
My 76 has had every suspension component replaced. A good 4 wheel alignment was done. And yet, the car feels very light in the front end. More like Cadillac steering as opposed to a Corvette. Any small input to the steering wheel makes the car feel nearly out of control at highway speeds. It wants to wander. Going into a corner hot makes it feel like the rear end want to break loose.
The only thing not replaced are the rear cross member bushings. Any ideas? I'm stumped.
The only thing not replaced are the rear cross member bushings. Any ideas? I'm stumped.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Bowling Green KY
Unfortunately, I didn't get the alignment results printout. I think the guy was completely frustrated by the car. He said he spent eight hours working on the car. Get one thing right and something else was wrong.
Bruiser, can you suggest (about) how much toe in you added?
SH-60B, More caster front or rear? How much to start?
It almost sounds like I'm gonna have to spend the day with the alignment guy and do the old test-and-tune on the car.
Bruiser, can you suggest (about) how much toe in you added?
SH-60B, More caster front or rear? How much to start?
It almost sounds like I'm gonna have to spend the day with the alignment guy and do the old test-and-tune on the car.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,706
Likes: 2,573
click on download on this link and tell the shop to follow the specs
https://www.vbandp.com/index.php?opt...=43&Itemid=131
what is your cold tire pressure?
https://www.vbandp.com/index.php?opt...=43&Itemid=131
what is your cold tire pressure?
Last edited by MelWff; Mar 1, 2016 at 02:33 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
Mine didn't get like that until the rear trailing arm bushings started to go bad. I know you said everything was replaced but are they shimmed and tightened correctly. Any movement will be magnified 10x at highway speed. Especially on a wet road.
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Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Bowling Green KY
click on download on this link and tell the shop to follow the specs
https://www.vbandp.com/index.php?opt...=43&Itemid=131
what is your cold tire pressure?
https://www.vbandp.com/index.php?opt...=43&Itemid=131
what is your cold tire pressure?
Thanks for the spec sheet. I'll compare it to the results when I get them from the shop.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Bowling Green KY
Vette Brake rebuilt the t arms. I have to assume the bolts were tightened correctly when the alignment was done. The handling didn't improve much at all after the alignment.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 34
Likes: 1
From: Willow Spring NC
I had the same experience in my '76. Everything was rebuilt, alignment in spec, and it still was very twitchy up front. I eventually replaced the factory power steering for a Borgeson setup, big improvement in road feel. The factory setup was notoriously twitchy, even properly adjusted. Not saying you should rush out and get one, but I'd keep it in mind.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Bowling Green KY
I had the same experience in my '76. Everything was rebuilt, alignment in spec, and it still was very twitchy up front. I eventually replaced the factory power steering for a Borgeson setup, big improvement in road feel. The factory setup was notoriously twitchy, even properly adjusted. Not saying you should rush out and get one, but I'd keep it in mind.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,706
Likes: 2,573
check the condition of the steering shaft rag joint and read this article on adjusting the play in the steering box
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?p=810
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?p=810
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 183
From: Port St. Lucie Fl
If I remember correctly there is toe and camber adjustment for the rear. Take the specs from the link listed above and have them adjust to that, I had mine done to some similar to that and its alot better than it was. I am still looking at aftermarket upper control arms to get it right. If I can find mine sheet when I get home ill post it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 823
Likes: 57
From: Austin TX
I strongly disagree that these cars are twitchy from the factory. Aftermarket steering is not required in order to solve your problem. My '72 and '73 could both be driven at speeds in excess of 120 MPH with no instability whatsoever. Something in your chassis or steering is worn or broken, or the alignment is way off. Are you saying the alignment guy spent eight hours on the car? Something is seriously wrong, either him or the car. I'll just add that the only time I ever had a Vette do something like this, it was an early C2 with worn out ball joints.
Last edited by 454Luvr; Mar 1, 2016 at 04:18 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
My 77 had what I would call overly sensitive steering until I rebuilt the power steering control valve and was difficult to control or at least took considerable concentration at speed.
Inside the steering control valve is a piston inside of a piston with a spring that is supposed to dampen the hydraulic pressure spikes from the pump as you turn the steering. At least this is the conclusion I came to after rebuilding the control valve. It may or may not be true. However the change in the sensitivity of my steering before and after leads me to believe that it is.
I discovered that the small piston with the spring inside the larger piston seized to the inside of the larger piston. Once I freed it up and rebuilt the power steering then it was normal or what I would call normal for power steering.
Is your power steering super easy, like one finger with little effort while stationary, easy to turn? If so this could be your issue or part of it in any case.
Inside the steering control valve is a piston inside of a piston with a spring that is supposed to dampen the hydraulic pressure spikes from the pump as you turn the steering. At least this is the conclusion I came to after rebuilding the control valve. It may or may not be true. However the change in the sensitivity of my steering before and after leads me to believe that it is.
I discovered that the small piston with the spring inside the larger piston seized to the inside of the larger piston. Once I freed it up and rebuilt the power steering then it was normal or what I would call normal for power steering.
Is your power steering super easy, like one finger with little effort while stationary, easy to turn? If so this could be your issue or part of it in any case.
Last edited by REELAV8R; Mar 1, 2016 at 04:19 PM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Bowling Green KY
My 77 had what I would call overly sensitive steering until I rebuilt the power steering control valve and was difficult to control or at least took considerable concentration at speed.
Inside the steering control valve is a piston inside of a piston with a spring that is supposed to dampen the hydraulic pressure spikes from the pump as you turn the steering. At least this is the conclusion I came to after rebuilding the control valve. It may or may not be true. However the change in the sensitivity of my steering before and after leads me to believe that it is.
I discovered that the small piston with the spring inside the larger piston seized to the inside of the larger piston. Once I freed it up and rebuilt the power steering then it was normal or what I would call normal for power steering.
Is your power steering super easy, like one finger with little effort while stationary, easy to turn? If so this could be your issue or part of it in any case.
Inside the steering control valve is a piston inside of a piston with a spring that is supposed to dampen the hydraulic pressure spikes from the pump as you turn the steering. At least this is the conclusion I came to after rebuilding the control valve. It may or may not be true. However the change in the sensitivity of my steering before and after leads me to believe that it is.
I discovered that the small piston with the spring inside the larger piston seized to the inside of the larger piston. Once I freed it up and rebuilt the power steering then it was normal or what I would call normal for power steering.
Is your power steering super easy, like one finger with little effort while stationary, easy to turn? If so this could be your issue or part of it in any case.
I have the kit to rebuild the P/S control valve as well as the pump and slave cylinder.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Bowling Green KY
I strongly disagree that these cars are twitchy from the factory. Aftermarket steering is not required in order to solve your problem. My '72 and '73 could both be driven at speeds in excess of 120 MPH with no instability whatsoever. Something in your chassis or steering is worn or broken, or the alignment is way off. Are you saying the alignment guy spent eight hours on the car? Something is seriously wrong, either him or the car. I'll just add that the only time I ever had a Vette do something like this, it was an early C2 with worn out ball joints.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Bowling Green KY
If I remember correctly there is toe and camber adjustment for the rear. Take the specs from the link listed above and have them adjust to that, I had mine done to some similar to that and its alot better than it was. I am still looking at aftermarket upper control arms to get it right. If I can find mine sheet when I get home ill post it.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Bowling Green KY
check the condition of the steering shaft rag joint and read this article on adjusting the play in the steering box
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?p=810
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?p=810
Thanks!