Steering problem
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: MI
Steering problem
Hello everyone! I'm a newbie to this forum, but I have to say I'm really impressed with what I've seen so far; great dialog and wonderful help.
I've had my first Vette, an 85 coupe, for a little over a year now. It has had a problem with the steering that is getting progressively worse. It started out as a little sway that felt like the road ruts were pulling it left or right. But now it is obviously not the road. When I pass another car it is most notable. It suddenly jerks, or pulls hard, to the right as I change to the left lane then jerks to the left as I change back to the right lane. It can really wake a guy up.
I am very capable of doing my own mechanical work, when I have time. Therefore I've had two different shops look at the problem, one of which was a Chevy dealer. They experienced the symptoms but could not identify the problem. Is this a common problem? Any suggestions?
I've had my first Vette, an 85 coupe, for a little over a year now. It has had a problem with the steering that is getting progressively worse. It started out as a little sway that felt like the road ruts were pulling it left or right. But now it is obviously not the road. When I pass another car it is most notable. It suddenly jerks, or pulls hard, to the right as I change to the left lane then jerks to the left as I change back to the right lane. It can really wake a guy up.
I am very capable of doing my own mechanical work, when I have time. Therefore I've had two different shops look at the problem, one of which was a Chevy dealer. They experienced the symptoms but could not identify the problem. Is this a common problem? Any suggestions?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,884
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia Mississippi
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: Steering problem (hickmanr)
Sounds like a case of Morning Sicknes Blues... You can use the Turkey Baster process,,, jack the front wheels off the ground, take a turkey baster and draw out the PS fluid, fill it back with ATF or Synthic PS fluid, start her up and turn wheels full LF & RT about 30 times, drain and repeat the process, took me about 3 times before all was fine... Hope this helps...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 762
Likes: 1
From: Huntington ma
Re: Steering problem (hickmanr)
Check the rear suspension for wheel play. Pay particular attention to "wobble" when holding the wheel/tire at top front and back rear positions - pull and push on it really hard! (with the suspension hanging). In-Out play at the differential yokes will let the tire flop around so bad it'll scare you - and only a few thousanths of slop will do it! The factory end play spec for the yokes is essentially Zero - if you can see, feel or measure anything you have a problem. Mine had the same symptoms you describe when I bought it. Finally, after doing everything else I could Think of to it, I pulled the diff apart and used the spacer set that Chevy sells to tighten up the yokes. Problem gone - drives like a different car. The back wheels will steer the thing all over the road if there's play in the suspension - and at the centerline, where the yokes and u-joints are stressed parts of the locating links, it doesn't take much to make a Huge difference...
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: MI
Re: Steering problem (vinnies87)
Wow! Much…much better. Thanks a ton! It made a very noticeable difference, but it still isn’t “perfect.” Is there a particular reason why you suggested ATF or synthetic PS fluid? I used standard PS fluid (only one store open and that’s all they had) and performed the task 5 times. The old fluid was very milky, almost sludgy, with a green tint to it. I’m suspecting the car has never had the PS fluid changed. I figure I need to repeat the whole process again.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: MI
Re: Steering problem (rons85)
Rons85,
Looks like I have the problem you described. The rear wheel definitely has some in-out movement and also seems to have a bad U-joint. I have to admit that I'm not familiar with a C4 rear-end. Who is my best source for the spacer kit you referred to? And, do you have any recommendations about attacking this problem?
Thanks in advance.
Looks like I have the problem you described. The rear wheel definitely has some in-out movement and also seems to have a bad U-joint. I have to admit that I'm not familiar with a C4 rear-end. Who is my best source for the spacer kit you referred to? And, do you have any recommendations about attacking this problem?
Thanks in advance.
