TheGreek!

When I jack the front of the car up off the ground the front tires massively "toe in", it looks like the right front tire is making a left turn and the left front tire is making a right turn. Is this normal? If not, what is causing it? The car is a 69.

69427

Sounds like typical bump steer. There's a kit for C2/C3 cars to change the locations of the outer tie rod pivot to reduce/eliminate the bump steer.

mortgageguy

Strange. Can you move the tire by hand when jacked up, any play in the steering system?

lionelhutz

check for loose components and worn bushings.

TheGreek!

Thanks for the replies so far. There's no play in the steering and all the bushings look good. Nothing is loose but I can't figure this out for the life of me. When the car is sitting on the ground the wheels point straight but when it's jacked up off the ground and the front suspension is hanging both tires point inward (toe in). That can't be the way it's supposed to be, it just can't.

sunflower 1972

Perhaps a photo of front end in the air?

DUB

...because what is being described does not make sense...IF...the steering components are in good condition.

DUB

TheGreek!

Trust me, the steering components are in good shape. I'm not a noob to cars, I know how to check steering components. Nothing is loose or worn out.

TheGreek!

Is there anything specific you'd like me to take a pic of?

Jason Staley

How much change in toe are you getting? The factory suspension will change toe-in ~1/4" PER SIDE when the wheel is at full droop.

Here are some measurements I took when I was addressing bumpsteer (change in toe-in due to suspension travel) on my car. Yes it's really that bad

BLUE1972

Just to check for a soft frame - take a measurement between the upper A arm shafts (swivel rods) before you lift it and after its lifted. If the dimension changes greatly that may be your answer.

Be sure you roll the car on the ground, if it's currently lifted to get any pre load out.

Revi

I guess you don't have a problem then.

69427

Did you bother to read post#2?

TheGreek!

Yes. Do you have a link to where to get the anti bump steer kit you mentioned?

TheGreek!

I don't have a problem with my steering components and front suspension parts but I still think the amount of toe in when I jack the car up is excessive.

TheGreek!

I haven't measured it (I don't have a front end alignment machine) but it looks to be a lot more than 1/4 inch.

'75

Just keep the wheels on the ground while you're driving and it wont bother you at all.

Big2Bird

You do have a tape measure, correct?

TheGreek!

Yes but what do I measure? Center to center of the front tires? Wouldn't that measurement change a little just from letting the front suspension hang even if the tires weren't toeing in?

Jason Staley

Yes the measurement will change, so you have to measure the distance of both the front and back of the tires. The difference between the values is the toe-in (absolute values don't matter). Just make sure to keep the measurement points consistent. Best way to measure the change is however using a bumpsteer measurement device like this. By moving the suspension through its full range of travel the dial indicators will show you how much the toe-in changes.




Here is the anti-bump steer kit I used, but to gain full benefit of it you need to lower the front of the car.

https://www.vbandp.com/c3-corvette-p...it-detail.html



Here is another kit from Vansteel that takes a slightly different approach to solving the problem.

https://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corv...1968-1982.html