gr8t73

I took my 73 in today for a front end alignment and when the tech had it up on the alignment rack he ask me to look at the control valve ball stud while another tech moved the steering wheel back and forth. There was definetly some slop. I would guess about 1/4" overall. The control valve is a new unit not rebuilt from Lone Star and pobably has four or five thousand miles. Is this slop normal or is there a problem.

MelWff

Did the "tech" have the engine running when he showed you the "slop"? If not he is either ignorant of how the power steering system works or trying to sell you something you dont need.

gr8t73

No the engine was not running. Does that make a difference?

'75

Yes, it matters, with the engine off, no pressure from the steering pump, the spring in the valve allows the ball stud to move. With the engine running, pump pressure is directed from the valve to the steering assist cylinder so it causes steering movement as the wheel is turned, much less detectable slop in the ball stud.

0Willcox Corvette

The valve works off pressure applied to the ball stud, when you turn the wheels left or right the direction of hydraulic fluid and which side it comes from is controlled from the stud in the valve. Now in their defense, they probably don't know this and felt there was an issue. You have to always keep in mind that these younger techs don't understand the system... or for that matter the IRS on the rear...

Heck I had my old 62 aligned at our alignment shop last year and my guy Eddie had retired. I had to drive up there to show the kid how to remove the grease fitting, loosen the bolt and adjust the camber on the upper outer support.

Willcox

7T1vette

Most C3 owners don't know that the ball stud has significant free-motion (slop) when not under pressure. Why should 'kids' who never worked on one know any different? I'm sure their training schools don't discuss C3 power steering systems.

gr8t73

Your 100% correct the tech had no idea what he was doing. When he went to do the rear alignment he had no ideal how to adjust the toe and said that someone had placed a bunch of shims in the trailing arm pocket to try and fix all the slop. This is the third shop I've been to for an alignment in past two years and none of them have gotten it right. That's the reason I've been to three shops in less than two years. If someone in my area (Hot Springs, Benton, Little Rock) knows of a qualified shop please give me their information.

0Willcox Corvette

Honestly I can't believe that an alignment shop wouldn't know how to set the camber on a 62.... this suspenstion was used from 1953-1962 on corvettes and even older on passenger cars... How could a shop not know.... Yes.. I'll turn off the rant... I'll go to my corner of the round room and take a break now...

Ernie

gjohnson

For aligning rear,my original GM manual for my 76 simply says that you back the car on alignment rig. Toe out becomes toe in, camber reads same

gr8t73

It's a 73 but your statement still holds true it's hard to beleive the tech had no ideal what the shims in the trailing arm pocket were for. Like I stated I have been to three different shops and the alignment is still not right. I am considering going to the local Chevy dealership and having the alignment done there at a cost of $275 for a four wheel alignment. Yikes!!!

MelWff

why do you think the Chevy dealer will be any better???? Check with local Corvette club to see where their members go.

0Willcox Corvette

I have to agree... find a local Corvette Club and ask them where the take their cars... that's where I would start... but you'll probably not get any better service from the chevy dealer. The issue is most are scared of the front trailing arm bolts and how to remove them so the shims can be swapped out. Good luck either way.

Willcox