Wandering car/loose steering
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 4
From: Tracy CA
Wandering car/loose steering
i hav e 92 LT1 6 speed. I've had it for number of years.
Very suddenly (within 500 miles) the car has started to wander around on the front end. I haven't done a thing to the front end and I haven't lifted it up yet.
What are the most common causes?
tie rod ball joint failure?
rack and pinion?
A arm ball joints?
I'm just trying to figure out where to start....
Very suddenly (within 500 miles) the car has started to wander around on the front end. I haven't done a thing to the front end and I haven't lifted it up yet.
What are the most common causes?
tie rod ball joint failure?
rack and pinion?
A arm ball joints?
I'm just trying to figure out where to start....
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
Number one place to check is tire pressure first.It doesnt matter if the tires looked filled,check each side,and all 4 corners and see what it reads.
I have GM cars that if the tire pressure is low on one side it will wander and steer badly over bad roads.
Hope this helps to start somewhere.
I have GM cars that if the tire pressure is low on one side it will wander and steer badly over bad roads.
Hope this helps to start somewhere.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 4
From: Tracy CA
Well, the tire pressure correction didn't fix it. The next step is to jack up the front end and see if any of the tie rod ends are loose or if the front ball joints have any play.
Thanks for the suggestion though. I'm not going in for alignment unless I replace something - the car tracks straight and there isn't any strange tire wear.
Thanks for the suggestion though. I'm not going in for alignment unless I replace something - the car tracks straight and there isn't any strange tire wear.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 786
Likes: 31
Cruise-In II Veteran
I had a similar problem years ago with my 1990 roadster. A close look revealed that the three bolts holding the rack and pinion to the frame had loosened! Put some "Lock-Tite" on the bolts and re-tightened them. Problem solved.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,477
Likes: 87
Originally Posted by mitchcole
Well, the tire pressure correction didn't fix it. The next step is to jack up the front end and see if any of the tie rod ends are loose or if the front ball joints have any play.
Thanks for the suggestion though. I'm not going in for alignment unless I replace something - the car tracks straight and there isn't any strange tire wear.
Thanks for the suggestion though. I'm not going in for alignment unless I replace something - the car tracks straight and there isn't any strange tire wear.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Don't forget the front wheel bearings. Given that you noticed this within a relatively small number of miles, you should check them. They are a sealed unit so there is no adjusting or replacing bearing sets.
There is a Tech Tip about using bearing assemblies from a 90 or 91 Firebird; they are much cheaper than the Corvette part and just needs a little modification to use.
There is a Tech Tip about using bearing assemblies from a 90 or 91 Firebird; they are much cheaper than the Corvette part and just needs a little modification to use.
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Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 505
Likes: 1
From: Guntersville Alabama
my 93 has the same problem. I jacked the front end up and I grabbed the tire at the 12:00 and 6:00 position and I felt play in that direction. I belive the wheel bearings are bad and this is causing the wandering problem. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have to replace the wheel bearings let me where you find the best price.
Cruiser
Cruiser
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 700
Likes: 1
From: Florida
How many miles are on the front tires? It's very common for automobiles with wheels that can not be rotated to begin wandering due to uneven tire wear.
I've had this happen twice on my 93. I alway's had it checked for an alignment and it checked out to be within specs. Replaced the front tires and all was great.
Hank
I've had this happen twice on my 93. I alway's had it checked for an alignment and it checked out to be within specs. Replaced the front tires and all was great.
Hank
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 4
From: Tracy CA
Thanks for the thoughts. I haven't jacked up the front end yet, but to answer a few questions:
The car has about 65K miles on it. It's driven almost every day - but not really far.
The tires have about 20K miles on them and have worked flawlessly from the word go. I'm not going to rule anything out, but it is probably a hard part.
I'll lift it up tomorrow!
The car has about 65K miles on it. It's driven almost every day - but not really far.
The tires have about 20K miles on them and have worked flawlessly from the word go. I'm not going to rule anything out, but it is probably a hard part.
I'll lift it up tomorrow!
