Steering
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 59
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From: London Ontario, Canada
Steering
1981 Corvette, I hit the brakes hard to avoid getting in to an accident and now my steering is very hard turning left also turning right gets tight after approx. a ¼ turn, any ideas, possible ball joints?
thanks in advance
thanks in advance
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Unusual problem. But ball joints are much more suspension than steering.
hitting the brakes hard shouldn't affect steering in anyway. Unless you have some excessive wear on parts that have now shifted. Get this front end up on jackstands and inspect everything.
Very unusual issue.
hitting the brakes hard shouldn't affect steering in anyway. Unless you have some excessive wear on parts that have now shifted. Get this front end up on jackstands and inspect everything.
Very unusual issue.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,151
Likes: 7,765
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Just a thought, when you slammed on the brakes, did you push down on the steering wheel?
perhaps you jammed something in the column?
unhook the rag link and see if the wheel turns freely.
perhaps you jammed something in the column?
unhook the rag link and see if the wheel turns freely.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,707
Likes: 268
From: S.E. MI
St. Jude Donor '15
I had something similar happen to mine. It was the power steering cylinder attachment to the frame. One of the washers on the end opened up and allowed the shaft to push through it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: Cool Northern Michigan
Only thing I can think of is you might have ruptured one of the front brake hoses or both. A rupture can be internal without a drop of DOT3 showing. Then the hose is like a one-way-check-valve and refuses to let the pads retract. Then the caliper pulls one way or the other.
With the front up on ramps, pump the brakes a few times them immediately open a front bleeder. If brake-fluid gushes out, it's under pressure and it should not be. If just a dribble comes out, its fine look elsewhere for you issue.
I would also check your PS Pump reservoir and cap gasket. In your panic stop, you may have lost a lot of PS fluid out of a poor sealing cap gasket.
With the front up on ramps, pump the brakes a few times them immediately open a front bleeder. If brake-fluid gushes out, it's under pressure and it should not be. If just a dribble comes out, its fine look elsewhere for you issue.
I would also check your PS Pump reservoir and cap gasket. In your panic stop, you may have lost a lot of PS fluid out of a poor sealing cap gasket.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 59
Likes: 12
From: London Ontario, Canada
Steering.
I'm baffled myself, unless something in the suspension has shifted and allowing something to bind causing the steering to tighten up, I'm still searching, pretty much everything is new
Last edited by Mark60; Apr 15, 2023 at 10:47 AM. Reason: Added
