greetings all,
experienced something strange the other day.
(88 c-4 stock. 89,000 miles, etc etc...).less then 1,500 miles on tires and had tires re-balanced 2 months ago.....alighnment almost perfect...

...i had the front end checked out by a shop about 2 months ago and they said the front end was "very tight" and showing next to nothing for wear.

....on sunday i noticed that the front end seemed to shake while holding the wheel tight and relatively straight....the best analogy would be that it somewhat seemed that the tires could have been "vibrating/turning left and right" while the steering wheel is straight.....the car was not pulling or drifting but, like i said that is what it felt like....(no half shaft or drive shaft issues. or rear bearings)...

....all the bushings seem fine and no "groaning" from the pump or rack that i can hear.....i suspect tie rods but, that is contrary to what the shop indicated....i will bring the car back to the shop and have it re-looked at again in the next day or so....

......should it be tie rods, is it a difficult job with an 88?...i have done a 74 and an 81 w/out incident....any ideas?.....thanks..

 

......humnnn....anyone?

 

No,tie rods are not that difficult. Requires an alignment when done, but you knew that. Do you get the vibes on all roads surfaces or specific ones? Thought came to me that you may have some degree of"tracking" in your front wheels.

 

I would definetly have the front end checked again but the left/right vibration you describe sounds like it could be a bad belt in one of your front tires and that won't show up on a balancer. Did the vibration start all of a sudden or did you just notice it? Chasing vibrations can be a PIA but your right first make sure all suspension,bushings, joints are tight.

 

....thanks for the reply....i was on a relatively smooth surface and had experienced this 1x a few months back also.....i had the tires rotated and didn't get this again until now..the L-R movement (not a vibration) in the steering wheel has me a bit perplexed.....no bent rims on front to warrant this....i have to also check the steering coupler to check it's integrity too....the L-R movement appears to be intermittent as it doesn't appear all the time and very infrequently....guess the car has got to be put in the air this week.......ugh

 

.....thanks for the reply...obviously on the front end check-up and hope to accomplish that before or during w/e.....no bad belt that i can feel (familiar with what that feels like for sure!).......as far as other times i have felt MOVEMENT (not vibration) see above post....no rack leaks or bushings, etc...(will still have to check steering coupler too)....do i have to drop the rack to do the tie rods (inner-outer?).....

 

Not for the outer tie rods, but if you have movement in the rack then yes and I would just replace it if you have to remove it it's a pita. either way you'll have to set the toe in or get an alignment when your done.

 

....thanks for the reply.....i am aware when replacing components in the front end that one needs to get an alignment....are you saying that in order to replace the INNER rods that i have to remove the rack or were yiou refering to "play in the rack - rack should be replaced?".....

...when replacing t-rods, a "normal" fork should do the trick?...what concerns me is that all other cars i have worked on had steel "components" so, i don't want to bend anything.....

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...errerid=226373

Check this thread, read all the posts

On my 87 I replaced the inner tie rod with the rack in the car. Remove the outer and the boot from the inner. There is a plastic sleeve over the inner, get it out of the way. There is a flat spot at the end of the inner where it is staked. I took an air cut off tool and ground out the staked area without getting into the shaft behind it. Thread off the old, thread on the new, take a hammer and punch to restake the new and reassemble. Takes about an hour. Sounds worse than it is. You will have to set the toe in and thats it.

 

I'm guessing outer tie rods. Jack up the front and put your hands at 3 and 9 o'clock position on the tire. Check for movement by pushing/pulling on the tire. If it's loose then replace the outer tie rods.

While it's up , put your hands at 12 and 6 o'clock to check the front bearing by the same method. (I don't think that's your problem but it only takes a second....)

I'll recommend using an actual tie rod removal tool instead of a pickle fork. The aluminum is pretty soft plus you'll tear up the boot w/ a fork. Any auto parts store will have one for 10 bucks or so.

After you are finished, setting toe is pretty easy to do w/ another helper. Measure from the front outside of the tire a couple of inches from the ground w/ a tape measure to the same spot on the other side of the car. (write it down)
Then do the same for the outside rear of the front tires. The difference is the toe. Just set it to zero and you should be fine until you want to spend the money on a good 4 wheel alignment.

 

.....thanks for the reply...

I'm guessing outer tie rods. Jack up the front and put your hands at 3 and 9 o'clock position on the tire. Check for movement by pushing/pulling on the tire. If it's loose then replace the outer tie rods.
***haven't had a chance to do this but, will do by w/e.

While it's up , put your hands at 12 and 6 o'clock to check the front bearing by the same method. (I don't think that's your problem but it only takes a second....)
***i am aware as to how to ck bearings and when i was at shop observed shop person do same as well as i. however, i was distracted and didn't see or myself do the "t-rod test"... I'll recommend using an actual tie rod removal tool instead of a pickle fork. The aluminum is pretty soft plus you'll tear up the boot w/ a fork. Any auto parts store will have one for 10 bucks or so.***i think i have both in the tool box but, will have to check as it has been a while. also have fork with air tools..
After you are finished, setting toe is pretty easy to do w/ another helper. Measure from the front outside of the tire a couple of inches from the ground w/ a tape measure to the same spot on the other side of the car. (write it down)***i just measure (index) what is already there and start from there...Then do the same for the outside rear of the front tires. The difference is the toe. Just set it to zero and you should be fine until you want to spend the money on a good 4 wheel alignment.***planning on it as standard operating proceedure..

 

......thanks for the reply...i started reading that post before i "got called away"...wil finish it a bit later...