I recently purchased a '95 Coupe (w/Auto trans.)

The car has been running great, but something strange started occurring a couple of weeks ago. I'm not the most technically savvy guy when it comes to cars, but I will do my best to describe it.

The issue occurs only for the first 5-10 minutes of driving. While idling or driving, there is something weird going on in the steering wheel. The issue occurs when I am moving the wheel from left to right and passing 12 o'clock in the process. When the wheel is approaching 12 o'clock you can feel a bit of tension, as if something is getting caught, and then the tension releases with an audible click/snap (you can feel this click in the wheel as well as the brake pedal.) When the click happens the steering wheel jumps a tiny bit in the dierction you are turning the wheel.

I would be very worried about this, but the issue completely goes away once the car is warmed up. The motion of the wheel is completely smooth after a few minutes of driving. I've searched the forum, and cannot locate a similar situation. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, because I have no idea what it could be!!

 

I also have a 95 coupe, and just had to replace my rack and pinion unit.
I can only guess, but if it were mine I would look at the rack and pioion unit as the possible trouble maker, because it goes away after it warms up, it may be something in the unit that catches when cold but disappears after the fluid warms it up. Just food for thought. Good Luck

Gooseit
Keep on Cruising

 

This may sound goofy. I have never had this problem in my Corvette, but I had the same exact problem in an old 1960 Rambler. It turned out to be something in the turn-signal mechanism. It was hanging up, causing the steering wheel to freeze-up, and then there was a big click as I forced the wheel past that point.

 

It's called "morning sickness"....power steering anomolies that occur only when the car is cold.

It's a common C4 Corvette issue. Your steering rack needs to be replaced. This problem will not get better or go away....and it needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

It can manifest itself like you described, or sometimes you just lose power steering completely for a few minutes and then it reappears as suddenly as you lost it.

They aren't particularly hard to change. You can buy the rack from any of the popular purveyors of Corvette parts and change it in a couple of hours. Just remember to mark the position of the outer tie rod ends and reinstall in the same position. The toe in will then be close enough to drive it to the alignment shop for a 4 wheel alignment

Oh....BTW....count on spending $75-100 for the alignment....do not pay more. Some unscrupulous shops try to con Corvette owners into thinking it should cost $200 + to align their car.....it shouldn't. There is nothing mysterious about the C4 suspension. It's actually quite simple.

 

Before you replace the rack try some Lucas power steering additive.Ive seen here on the forum that people have had luck with it.For about $5 I would give it a shot.Good luck and welcome to the forum

 

Thank you for all the input!

I don't want this issue to escalate, so I may have to go the replacement route.

Would a newbie like me be able to do this job? On my 88' GTA I did some minor work like the starter, thermostat, AFPR, etc. Would this be a comparable job, or should I have a shop do this?

Thanks again for the info...

 

Its a step up from starter, thermostat, AFPR however, if you have some tools, a place to work and patience you will be able to do this job. But you will need an alignment when done.

I looked at Helms and Chiltons and both of them make it look like a job that I could easily accomplish in my driveway during a weekend.Mike

 

You're welcome, and BTW, welcome to the forum.

Excellent idea. It will get worse, and a bottle of snake oil won't solve the problem.


Yes you can do it. But a couple of caveats are in order.

First, make sure you have a good place to work, preferably a garage.

Next, a good set of tools, and most importantly, a torque wrench.

Third, patience. This is a job you should do by the book, slowly and methodically. Ensure that you follow the shop manual, and retorque everything back to proper specs. Then recheck your torque values. This isn't something you want to get sloppy with and have come apart later (at the worst possible time).

I guess the last consideration is this; Is this car your only way to get to work? If you happen to accidentally break something you might have to order, the car could be down for a couple of days. Might be a good idea to have a couple of cases of beer in the fridge so your buddies will shuttle you back and forth to work for a couple of days in the worst case scenario (and let them win a couple of hands on poker night)

You can do it yourself in an afternoon, working at a nice, slow pace. Be sure to have it aligned IMMEDIATELY after you're finished. Once again $75 to $100....don't pay the dreaded "Corvette Tax". Shop around if necessary.

It will be a good chance to help you get better acquainted with your car, plus you get the satisfaction of accomplishment.

 

All good advise: But..... you could try to flush/purge the PS system first. This cleared up my 'morning sickness'.
1. Jack up the front end.
2. Get Turkey baister and suck out all the ps fluid from the res.
3. Start the engine and turn the wheels 15 times, completely left then completely right, from start to stop
4. Do the turkey thing again
5. Fill
6. #3

Do that 3 - 4 times, then take it out and find a parking lot and make alot of full turns in both directions.

Repeat steps above, and do the drive again.

Your may also work, and there you go, only the cost of a bottle of synth PS fluid and your time.

If it doesn't work, replace rack.