Guys any ideas on why this happens?. I have already posted this on the tech/suspension/steering board but had no response, maybe they dont like my user name!!

Anyway my front wheels seem to turn to much on full lock. It feels like the tires are going to pop of the rim when on full lock when moving forward or backwards. I have recently replaced the steering box with one from another scrap 82 Z28 as my old one was really sloppy!. The car is much more responsive but still it feels like the wheels are turning to much. How much do I turn the adjusting pin on top of the box?. I havent had the wheel alinement checked as yet but with front wheels off the ground there is no movement, loose joints ect. Is there ment to be some sort of steering lockstop on the chassis. The car was a stolen recovered so I dont how much it was abused when it was pinched, may be it was driven hard into the kerbside & has bent the front subframe out of line.

Another thought is maybe the top strut bearings are worn?
any thoughts would greatly appreciated

Thanks Damo

 

No idea, but it ain't an MOT failure so don't worry about it

There must be some kind of stop on the system that is missing? Bloody annoying I know!

Good news that the windsceen is en-route. So by the time that arrives everything else should be good to go as long as you don't carry on playing skittles every night... So that's why you got the shoes

Cheers

 

Yes my friend its not an MOT failure but I cant drive the bloody thing like it, will chew my tires to bits & its really frustrating..gotta get it sorted geezer

"as you don't carry on playing skittles every night... So that's why you got the shoes " Real cute pal, yall look pretty funny eatin corn on the cob wiv no ferkin teeth punk


Cheers damo

 

Damien,

to adjust the steering box, slacken the locknut (the little dooh dad that winks at you all on its own on the steering box) then turn the screw in the middle untill it nips. from there back it off 1/4 turn, then (holding screw so it doesnt move) nip up the locknut.

 

Cheers Phil will sort it.

I replaced the center link over the weekend which has helped a little but looking at the wheels it looks like the camber on the drivers wheel (n/s) is way out. The wheel points in to much at the bottom so I wonder if someone in the past has had the top strut bearing off & not scribed around it before removing it therefore putting it all out of line, I need to get it checked out at the local tire service. I reckon the tracking is way out aswell. Maybe a IROC s/box will be better??

 

Damo,
pre 86 cars ran some wierd geometry, according to my Haynes manual, it should have 1 degree pos. camber 3 deg caster and 3/64th ins toe in.

 

There should be stops on the control arms- they're pieces of metal that stick out and "aim" at the steering knuckle. Some steering boxes also have internal stops meant to keep the front tires from rubbing on the inside of the fender.

There's no adjustment you can do to the box to "fix" this; you could hurt the box unless you take it apart and follow the GM procedure for adjusting the preload.

If you suspect frame damage, bring it to a good alignment shop or a body shop and have them check it out. They're usually pretty good at finding bent parts. How is the wear on the front tires? Is the tread wearing out evenly? It's normal to get some scuffing on the outermost edge of the tread; it's due to the design of our suspension.

Good luck!

 

mine seemed to do that b4 i replaced the ball joints and putting a wonder bar on helps

 

check to make sure the draglink isn't backward. This will cause one wheel to turn more than the other and thus drag it one turning more than it should. This is what it sounds like. The inner tie rod end should be behind the draglink not infront of it. The drag link should angle backward not forward from the gearbox.