Hi Guys, just bought an 82 z-28 for a project car.

I was driving it around last night, trying to get a feel for it, and making a checklist of things that need to be fixed.

The major problem is with the front end. The front tires are worn a little funny, the are worn more on the outside. The big problem is at around 50 mph the front started shaking a little, and did not get worse. I took the car up to 60, and it was about the same until I hit a bump at which time, the wole front end was shaking violently, and continued to until I slowed down to about 30, then it went away. I carefully drove the car home, and had no further problems....

I cant see anything broken or disconnected under the car, but I did find a brand new in the box pair of ball joints in the back seat. That's a clue.... But how do I check the ball joints to determine if that is the problem? I dont have a pickle fork, are the expensive? are they hard to replace?

Thanks
ck76239

 

My car did the same thing. Jack up the front end and place stands underneath the a-arms. Grab the centerlink and see if it is loose, also check the idler arm and pitman arm to see if they are loose. I changed out the center link and pitman arm because my bushings were worn out.

If these are tight, grab the tire on the top and bottom and see if moves top to bottom, this will mean that either the bearings are worn out or the ball-joints are worn.

I am pretty sure that it is the centerlink bushings. Let us know.

 

How would it be to change the center link bushings, and special tools required?

Also, do you guys have any better reccomendations for a repair manual. I just bought a Hayes 1982 -1992 Camaro/Firebird book, but I am generally unimpressed.

I have a 68-87 Chilton Manual for Malibu-Monte Carlo, for a 80 Malibu i used to have, and it is much more detailed... Too bad my Hayes is not...

Thanks!

 

Well, I got under there, the ball joints checked out, so I shook and pulled and tugged on every suspension component, and could find none that were loose.

the ride seemed stiff, and the car has sat in a garage in 1999, so I was told to check the struts, they were very tight, could not bounce the font end at all, so we put in new struts, and now the car handles great!

Ck76239

 

ok i jacked up the front end and got under there, grabbed the center link, seems good to go. then grabed a bar that comes from the near the tire it looks like it has a lil metel brace on it, it piviots back in forth like the bushing arnt holing it stif enough,, is this right?
it is on the right side.......

 

I also own an 82 z28 (75,000 miles) and a week or so ago i went to get an alignment and i was told my balljoints and centerlink are bad, so im going to redo the whole steering linkage. Worn steering components should be expected after 23 years.

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBr...3d80199c9f.jsp

Using this great link i just found in another post heres a cut and paste on how to check balljoints.



INSPECTION

Before performing this inspection, make sure the wheel bearings are adjusted correctly and that the control arm bushings are in good condition.

Jack the car up under the front lower control arm at the spring seat.

Raise the car until there is 1-2 in. (25-51mm) of clearance under the wheel.

Insert a bar under the wheel and pry upward. If the wheel raises more than 1/8 in. (3mm), the ball joints are worn. Determine if the lower ball joint is worn by visual inspection while prying on the wheel.