Hello,

My problem is quite simple but I don't know how to solve it and if it is possible to solve it (maybe it is not a problem at all and is something common on these cars, but I am not experienced enough to find out by myself).

This year, I totally rebuilt my front end.

Here are the parts replaced :

- reman power steering pump
- reman quick ratio steering box
- new power steering hoses
- new intermediate steering shaft
- and from Spohn, the following parts : Moog front end rebuild kit with outer and inner tie-rods, center link, pitman arm, spherical upper strut mounts
- 2 new Koni racing and adjustable shock absorbers

I brought my car to a shop which deals with steering alignement.

They did a very good job but, as the guy said (and I knew it before bringing my car there), the rebuilt steering reacts slightly quickier on one side than the other one (it did that with my old and worn steering linkage, but I thought it could be due to its age), although the alignment values are good (exactly the same on each side) and the fact that I have the same number of turns from dead center to left or to right (something like 1.25 turn from dead center to full steering on one side).

Pitman arm was installed on the steering box as explained in the shop manual, same goes for the intermediate steering shaft.

So, I would like to know if the problem happens to some of you and if there is something I can do or set to solve it.

Thanks a lot guys !!

 

Based on the way the panhard bar sits in our cars, it should react faster turning right because the PHB is pushing the rear end into the ground instead of pulling it across. To solve this you can plunk down roughly $700 to buy Sam Strano's watts link setup which some think is a questionable design. I personally don't see a problem with it and trust his judgement for parts like that due to his many National Solo II titles.

 

To be honest, I don't remember on which side it reacts the quickier. It might be on the right side as you said.

So, according to what you say, it could be quite normal on a car using stock parts.

The part you are talking about is quite impressive !! I don't think I will go that far, knowing my car will remain quite stock for the moment.

But how about an adjustable panhard bar ??

 

The adjustable PHB only allows you to center the rear end after the car has been lowered/raised (don't know why you would do the later).

After thinking about it, the vehicle should be more neutral than I had originally thought. As long as it is only you in the car, the extra weight you put on the drivers side would help weigh down the left side of the car allowing the vehicle to stay slightly more level through left handed turns. I don't know how much you weigh so this may not even affect it much but I just thought I should toss the idea out there.

I don't really remember noticing that my car turned better one way or the other, but then again I have not driven my car in about a week and a half.

Mike