Early C3 Alignment & Wandering
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2016
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From: Minnesota
Early C3 Alignment & Wandering
I have approx. 300 miles on a fresh engine rebuild and while it was out I went through the entire front end - CA bushings and hardware, springs, new tie rods, swaybar links. Original 1970 PS system just cleaned up.
I had a 4-wheel alignment done and it appears to run straight with a hand on the wheel. At speed, however, it wants to dive RIGHT if I take my hand off the wheel. If I turn the wheel left, it WILL dive/turn just as quick to the left.
I know now these cars are old and the PS is sensitive. Is it the PS that is "pulling" me to the right or should it track straight with no hands? Do I need to have it re-checked? Thanks
I had a 4-wheel alignment done and it appears to run straight with a hand on the wheel. At speed, however, it wants to dive RIGHT if I take my hand off the wheel. If I turn the wheel left, it WILL dive/turn just as quick to the left.
I know now these cars are old and the PS is sensitive. Is it the PS that is "pulling" me to the right or should it track straight with no hands? Do I need to have it re-checked? Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 273
From: Dunedin NZ.
Hi, I have a '70 with stock PS also, have you jacked up the car (front wheels off the ground) and run the engine to see whether the wheels stay pointing straight? Another way to do it is to disconnect the PS ram from the chassis and see if it moves when the engine is running and the wheels are pointing straight. There is an adjustment nut under the cap on the end of the PS valve for setting the valve so that it is not reacting at the straight ahead position and "telling" the ram to move one way or the other.
Car should track straight with no hands on a flat level surface,bear in mind if you have stock steering settings, they were intended for bias ply tires, newer radial tires require less effort to turn, I have added more caster to compensate for this which helped diminish the "go Kart" feeling the steering has at speed. The power steering being non speed sensitive is very primitive by todays standards.
Car should track straight with no hands on a flat level surface,bear in mind if you have stock steering settings, they were intended for bias ply tires, newer radial tires require less effort to turn, I have added more caster to compensate for this which helped diminish the "go Kart" feeling the steering has at speed. The power steering being non speed sensitive is very primitive by todays standards.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 516
Likes: 72
From: Modesto California
I have approx. 300 miles on a fresh engine rebuild and while it was out I went through the entire front end - CA bushings and hardware, springs, new tie rods, sway bar links. Original 1970 PS system just cleaned up.
I had a 4-wheel alignment done and it appears to run straight with a hand on the wheel. At speed, however, it wants to dive RIGHT if I take my hand off the wheel. If I turn the wheel left, it WILL dive/turn just as quick to the left.
I know now these cars are old and the PS is sensitive. Is it the PS that is "pulling" me to the right or should it track straight with no hands? Do I need to have it re-checked? Thanks
I had a 4-wheel alignment done and it appears to run straight with a hand on the wheel. At speed, however, it wants to dive RIGHT if I take my hand off the wheel. If I turn the wheel left, it WILL dive/turn just as quick to the left.
I know now these cars are old and the PS is sensitive. Is it the PS that is "pulling" me to the right or should it track straight with no hands? Do I need to have it re-checked? Thanks
It sound like your power steering cylinder's rod is loose where it attaches to the frame.
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Joined: May 2016
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From: Minnesota
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 708
Likes: 150
From: Minnesota
Hi, I have a '70 with stock PS also, have you jacked up the car (front wheels off the ground) and run the engine to see whether the wheels stay pointing straight? Another way to do it is to disconnect the PS ram from the chassis and see if it moves when the engine is running and the wheels are pointing straight. There is an adjustment nut under the cap on the end of the PS valve for setting the valve so that it is not reacting at the straight ahead position and "telling" the ram to move one way or the other.
Car should track straight with no hands on a flat level surface,bear in mind if you have stock steering settings, they were intended for bias ply tires, newer radial tires require less effort to turn, I have added more caster to compensate for this which helped diminish the "go Kart" feeling the steering has at speed. The power steering being non speed sensitive is very primitive by todays standards.
Car should track straight with no hands on a flat level surface,bear in mind if you have stock steering settings, they were intended for bias ply tires, newer radial tires require less effort to turn, I have added more caster to compensate for this which helped diminish the "go Kart" feeling the steering has at speed. The power steering being non speed sensitive is very primitive by todays standards.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 488
Likes: 43
From: Vancouver British Columbia
I went through some of the same issues. If you find it is not your power steering, you may want to consider your back wheels. They may have done the complete 4 wheel alignment but if your back trailing arms are not tracking straight, that may be your problem. My system was original never touched and though I got my car to track straight with front end caster/camber and toe in, my back wheels are not tracking straight. One of my future projects is the trailing arms.
Ask the shop what was aligned in the back end and how the bushings in the back looked.
As someone on here told me, it is one thing to align an old car with old bushings but the question is whether the alignment is repeatable?
That tells the story of if everything is as tight as it should be.
Pete
Ask the shop what was aligned in the back end and how the bushings in the back looked.
As someone on here told me, it is one thing to align an old car with old bushings but the question is whether the alignment is repeatable?
That tells the story of if everything is as tight as it should be.
Pete
Last edited by VancouverL71; Oct 10, 2017 at 03:48 PM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 708
Likes: 150
From: Minnesota
I went through some of the same issues. If you find it is not your power steering, you may want to consider your back wheels. They may have done the complete 4 wheel alignment but if your back trailing arms are not tracking straight, that may be your problem. My system was original never touched and though I got my car to track straight with front end caster/camber and toe in, my back wheels are not tracking straight. One of my future projects is the trailing arms.
Ask the shop what was aligned in the back end and how the bushings in the back looked.
As someone on here told me, it is one thing to align an old car with old bushings but the question is whether the alignment is repeatable?
That tells the story of if everything is as tight as it should be.
Pete
Ask the shop what was aligned in the back end and how the bushings in the back looked.
As someone on here told me, it is one thing to align an old car with old bushings but the question is whether the alignment is repeatable?
That tells the story of if everything is as tight as it should be.
Pete
...also, when I originally went in for alignment he told me I needed the strut arms rebushed and to repack the front wheel bearings, so it was obvious he was being picky about how tight the car was.
Last edited by JoeMinnesota; Oct 10, 2017 at 04:17 PM.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
the entire back end should be suspect......all the trailing arm bushings, the wheel bearings and the axle stubs.....
its called rear steer and its pricey to fix. if the car is wandering look to the back.
jack up rear of car and check bearings at 3 and 9 and 12 and 6 (wheel bearings) , pull on the wheel and see if it moves towards you...( Axle stub).
look at the trailing arms and the bushings and look at the shape of the links off the trailing arm.
good luck. bob
its called rear steer and its pricey to fix. if the car is wandering look to the back.
jack up rear of car and check bearings at 3 and 9 and 12 and 6 (wheel bearings) , pull on the wheel and see if it moves towards you...( Axle stub).
look at the trailing arms and the bushings and look at the shape of the links off the trailing arm.
good luck. bob
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 708
Likes: 150
From: Minnesota
the entire back end should be suspect......all the trailing arm bushings, the wheel bearings and the axle stubs.....
its called rear steer and its pricey to fix. if the car is wandering look to the back.
jack up rear of car and check bearings at 3 and 9 and 12 and 6 (wheel bearings) , pull on the wheel and see if it moves towards you...( Axle stub).
look at the trailing arms and the bushings and look at the shape of the links off the trailing arm.
good luck. bob
its called rear steer and its pricey to fix. if the car is wandering look to the back.
jack up rear of car and check bearings at 3 and 9 and 12 and 6 (wheel bearings) , pull on the wheel and see if it moves towards you...( Axle stub).
look at the trailing arms and the bushings and look at the shape of the links off the trailing arm.
good luck. bob
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 708
Likes: 150
From: Minnesota
The Verdict
Hi, I have a '70 with stock PS also, have you jacked up the car (front wheels off the ground) and run the engine to see whether the wheels stay pointing straight? Another way to do it is to disconnect the PS ram from the chassis and see if it moves when the engine is running and the wheels are pointing straight. There is an adjustment nut under the cap on the end of the PS valve for setting the valve so that it is not reacting at the straight ahead position and "telling" the ram to move one way or the other.
Car should track straight with no hands on a flat level surface,bear in mind if you have stock steering settings, they were intended for bias ply tires, newer radial tires require less effort to turn, I have added more caster to compensate for this which helped diminish the "go Kart" feeling the steering has at speed. The power steering being non speed sensitive is very primitive by todays standards.
Car should track straight with no hands on a flat level surface,bear in mind if you have stock steering settings, they were intended for bias ply tires, newer radial tires require less effort to turn, I have added more caster to compensate for this which helped diminish the "go Kart" feeling the steering has at speed. The power steering being non speed sensitive is very primitive by todays standards.
IT IS LIKE A DIFFERENT CAR! Tracks straight down the road and when I turn it no longer "dives" or darts one way or the other. The steering is heavier and the front wheels feel well planted. I absolutely cannot believe how nice it is to drive.
Thanks again. a guy can really find some answers here. And, the best part is not another rebuild or a frame-off to fix the steering!
Last edited by JoeMinnesota; Oct 11, 2017 at 10:05 PM.
