Power steering advice
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 173
Likes: 1
From: Clermont-Ferrand France
Power steering advice
Hi,
I recently rebuilt my front end, PS included (car is a 76, manual L48). I followed Jim Shea papers to the best of my capabilities (this is most likely where the problem lies, I am not that good
).
Since then, I have been having 2 issues:
1/ PS belt screaming at start up (usually fine afterwards), as if it is slipping badly. I have no clue on how to approach that one, help and advice welcome!
2/ To maintain the vehicle straight when driving, I need to turn the steering wheel very slightly to the right, continuously. Yes, I did the alignement myself...
I checked the balance on the PS valve, it's fine, the pitman arm points forwards, etc... I am leaning towards an alignment issue, but cannot figure out which way I should adjust the tie rods to correct for it. Any pointer?
Thanks,
Ced
I recently rebuilt my front end, PS included (car is a 76, manual L48). I followed Jim Shea papers to the best of my capabilities (this is most likely where the problem lies, I am not that good
).Since then, I have been having 2 issues:
1/ PS belt screaming at start up (usually fine afterwards), as if it is slipping badly. I have no clue on how to approach that one, help and advice welcome!
2/ To maintain the vehicle straight when driving, I need to turn the steering wheel very slightly to the right, continuously. Yes, I did the alignement myself...
I checked the balance on the PS valve, it's fine, the pitman arm points forwards, etc... I am leaning towards an alignment issue, but cannot figure out which way I should adjust the tie rods to correct for it. Any pointer?
Thanks,
Ced
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Unless you are very experienced, I doubt that you can do a decent alignment at home. Your P/S belt just needs to be tightened some....but that is not an 'easy' job. Specific bolts/nuts need to be loosened, pump needs to be pried (properly!) to get belt to correct tension, and nuts/bolts tightened.
I would suggest that you call a Corvette car club in your area and ask where they get their cars aligned.
I would suggest that you call a Corvette car club in your area and ask where they get their cars aligned.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,114
Likes: 597
Start with alignment.
1. What is the alignment as the car sits ? (measurements)
1a how did you do the measurements ?
2. How did you align the car ?
I am guessing this is your first attempt at alignment. Don't worry you will get better at it once you burn off a few sets of tires.
There is nothing wrong with learning to do a good wheel alignment. It does take a good / better / best approach. There are many DIY methods with varying results.
When I started DIY the last step was to take the car to an alignment shop to measure the results. If they vary from what you think you set it as, the next step is to find a way to measure the same as the alignment shop. Then you will know the good / better / best method.
1. What is the alignment as the car sits ? (measurements)
1a how did you do the measurements ?
2. How did you align the car ?
I am guessing this is your first attempt at alignment. Don't worry you will get better at it once you burn off a few sets of tires.
There is nothing wrong with learning to do a good wheel alignment. It does take a good / better / best approach. There are many DIY methods with varying results.
When I started DIY the last step was to take the car to an alignment shop to measure the results. If they vary from what you think you set it as, the next step is to find a way to measure the same as the alignment shop. Then you will know the good / better / best method.
Last edited by cagotzmann; Jun 9, 2018 at 09:34 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,809
From: Cool Northern Michigan
When prying, stay away from the fill tube and try to use force against the pump body. Using a 1" X 2" wooden stick works well. The wood is more forgiving than a steel bar.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 173
Likes: 1
From: Clermont-Ferrand France
I aligned the car using the string method and some jacks. Measured with a decent steel ruler and calipers.
It took me a few iterations to get something I was satisfied with.
My first attempts had so much toe in, and then so much tow out that the tires were screaming even in strait line! I did take quite a bit of rubber off them!
I will need to dig the exact number out but I aimed for 1/8 total toe as per Duntov.
With regards to the steering, I may have not been clear enough. I do need to keep the steering wheel to the right, but if I let go, it tracks straight and the steering does not move. If I brake, the car stays straight as well, hence my conclusion on the alignement….
It took me a few iterations to get something I was satisfied with.
My first attempts had so much toe in, and then so much tow out that the tires were screaming even in strait line! I did take quite a bit of rubber off them!
I will need to dig the exact number out but I aimed for 1/8 total toe as per Duntov.
With regards to the steering, I may have not been clear enough. I do need to keep the steering wheel to the right, but if I let go, it tracks straight and the steering does not move. If I brake, the car stays straight as well, hence my conclusion on the alignement….
Start with alignment.
1. What is the alignment as the car sits ? (measurements)
1a how did you do the measurements ?
2. How did you align the car ?
I am guessing this is your first attempt at alignment. Don't worry you will get better at it once you burn off a few sets of tires.
There is nothing wrong with learning to do a good wheel alignment. It does take a good / beter / best approach. There are many DIY methods with varying results.
When I started DIY the last step was to take the car to an alignment shop to measure the results. If they vary from what you think you set it as, the next step is to find a way to measure the same as the alignment shop. Then you will know the good / better / best method.
1. What is the alignment as the car sits ? (measurements)
1a how did you do the measurements ?
2. How did you align the car ?
I am guessing this is your first attempt at alignment. Don't worry you will get better at it once you burn off a few sets of tires.
There is nothing wrong with learning to do a good wheel alignment. It does take a good / beter / best approach. There are many DIY methods with varying results.
When I started DIY the last step was to take the car to an alignment shop to measure the results. If they vary from what you think you set it as, the next step is to find a way to measure the same as the alignment shop. Then you will know the good / better / best method.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
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i would be careful prying on the pump reservoir, if you dent it , it will leak. If you can, grab a hold of teh pump and lean back,,then try and just tighten the top bolt, or get an assistant. I tighten mine that way and it doesnt scream at all.
As for the alighnment, find a shop with an old guy that did them before computers were invented. He'll get it right.
As for the alighnment, find a shop with an old guy that did them before computers were invented. He'll get it right.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 495
Likes: 85
I've heard of a general rule of thumb that if you tighten it and you can twist the belt just short of 90 degrees, then its good. I did this on my second belt by simply pulling on the pump by hand and it has been going pretty good.
You could also just use a new belt
With all this being said, a lot of people with these cars drive them so irregularly that if a belt lasts 2000 miles, its a small price to pay. Swapping a new belt is pretty easy with it being on the front groove of the crank and water pump pulley (at least on a non-AC car).
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,213
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Per the belt-
-degrease/deglaze it. Acetone or lacquer thinner works well.
-get a new belt if the old one is hard
-clean the pump pulley of grease and rust
-don't over tighten the belt, it strains the bushings/bearings (if using a new belt, it needs to be retightened as it stretches.
-degrease/deglaze it. Acetone or lacquer thinner works well.
-get a new belt if the old one is hard
-clean the pump pulley of grease and rust
-don't over tighten the belt, it strains the bushings/bearings (if using a new belt, it needs to be retightened as it stretches.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
I always thought the belt tightening tools that went between the pulleys was pretty neat,
sounds like your need to try the alignment again, wouldn't opening up the toe in help this?
did you align the rear also?
sounds like your need to try the alignment again, wouldn't opening up the toe in help this?
did you align the rear also?
Last edited by bobs77vet; May 29, 2018 at 06:28 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Sorry, but I've never been able to adequately tighten ANY power steering belt without using a pry-tool of some sort to leverage tension into the belt. If YOU can do this with arm strength, good for you. I can't.
But, that doesn't mean that you should OVER-tighten the belt, just because you use that lever to get the job done.
P.S. I ran across one of those belt tensioning tools some time back at a swap meet. It was only 10 buck$ and I seriously thought about it. But then I thought about using that $10 to buy lunch and just tightening the belts as I had done for over 50 years (without any problem).....
Lunch was good!
But, that doesn't mean that you should OVER-tighten the belt, just because you use that lever to get the job done.
P.S. I ran across one of those belt tensioning tools some time back at a swap meet. It was only 10 buck$ and I seriously thought about it. But then I thought about using that $10 to buy lunch and just tightening the belts as I had done for over 50 years (without any problem).....
Lunch was good!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 173
Likes: 1
From: Clermont-Ferrand France
Hi, thanks for your help, I tightened the belts, they were new and stretched. 
With regards to the misaligned steering wheel, yep, it is the alignment, I made things better after realizing that some parts became loose and moved a bit. I had a huge toe out especially on the passenger side.
It is still not perfect, I am now very close to 0 and the steering wheel is only very slightly to the right.
I have also found the Jim Shea post I was looking for with the information on how to center the steering wheel.
Quote (also in Jim's paper):
If the steering wheel needs to be adjusted clockwise to get it on center - the left tie rod will need to be shortened and the right lengthened by equal amounts. If the steering wheel needs to be adjusted counterclockwise – the left needs to be lengthened and the right shortened.
With regards to the misaligned steering wheel, yep, it is the alignment, I made things better after realizing that some parts became loose and moved a bit. I had a huge toe out especially on the passenger side.
It is still not perfect, I am now very close to 0 and the steering wheel is only very slightly to the right.
I have also found the Jim Shea post I was looking for with the information on how to center the steering wheel.
Quote (also in Jim's paper):
If the steering wheel needs to be adjusted clockwise to get it on center - the left tie rod will need to be shortened and the right lengthened by equal amounts. If the steering wheel needs to be adjusted counterclockwise – the left needs to be lengthened and the right shortened.
Last edited by Jazzyced; Jun 8, 2018 at 02:57 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,114
Likes: 597
Hi, thanks for your help, I tightened the belts, they were new and stretched.
With regards to the misaligned steering wheel, yep, it is the alignment, I made things better after realizing that some parts became loose and moved a bit. I had a huge toe out especially on the passenger side.
It is still not perfect, I am now very close to 0 and the steering wheel is only very slightly to the right.
I have also found the Jim Shea post I was looking for with the information on how to center the steering wheel.
Quote (also in Jim's paper):
If the steering wheel needs to be adjusted clockwise to get it on center - the left tie rod will need to be shortened and the right lengthened by equal amounts. If the steering wheel needs to be adjusted counterclockwise – the left needs to be lengthened and the right shortened.
With regards to the misaligned steering wheel, yep, it is the alignment, I made things better after realizing that some parts became loose and moved a bit. I had a huge toe out especially on the passenger side.
It is still not perfect, I am now very close to 0 and the steering wheel is only very slightly to the right.
I have also found the Jim Shea post I was looking for with the information on how to center the steering wheel.
Quote (also in Jim's paper):
If the steering wheel needs to be adjusted clockwise to get it on center - the left tie rod will need to be shortened and the right lengthened by equal amounts. If the steering wheel needs to be adjusted counterclockwise – the left needs to be lengthened and the right shortened.
Center the steering wheel. Adjust each tie rod until you measure the same distance from the rear wheel hub. Once each side is balanced re measure the total toe. To adjust after this point adjust each tie rod the same amount of rotation to maintain the wheel center point.
Now you can do the same measurement to see how good your rear toe alignment is. If the rear has a high thrust angle this will effect the front steering position to drive the car straight. I would start with check the rear toe. Make sure they are balanced left vs right with relation to the front alxe.
This is how a measure this.
Last edited by cagotzmann; Jun 9, 2018 at 11:07 AM.