So, I bought an 85 IROC yesterday, and one of the many issues besides the rod knock, bad transmission, no headlights, and it overheating in my driveway is... the front driver tires has what I like to call a 'weeble wobble' to it. The whole car started shaking violently on the way home, I stuck my head out the window and the wheel looked like it was about to fall off.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Camar...ht_1672wt_1110

Do you guys think this will fix that problem?

 

i take it you already checked tires for flat spots or goose eggs, and wheels for bends or damage

 

Yeah, I put different front tires on, still did it.

 

howd the rotors and breaks look when you had wheels off?

 

They looked a little worn, but nothing bad. I mean, this wheel really looked like it had 1 lug on it or something, I don't think anything like warped rotors may have caused it.

 

Wheel bearing?

JamesC

 

hmm I don't know much, how would I go about checking the wheel baring besides switching the 2 sides?

 

ive had that twice. once, 3 of the 5 studs had broken off with the other 2 lug nuts almost all un fastened. lucky i had noticed when i did(saw a part of car come flying off as i was looking through side rear mirror{was one of the studs}) this i would expect not the issue as you would notice missing studs. maybe nuts not torqued down?

the second time i had very low air in tire.

maybe a bent wheel?

 

Ok, I'm going to double check all the studs now.

 

id jack up the car and check the play in the wheel, id wanna locate the problem before throwing money at it

 

Since you put new tires on it, I'd have thought you'd have noticed if studs/lugs were missing. Did you swap from side to side to verify that a wheel isn't bent?

JamesC

 

No, the car came with polished aluminum rims on it and the original wheels that I put on the front. I did it just when I woke up, so I don't really remember anything. How much play in the wheel should there be? Is that like how loose it is?

 

if you jack it up and grab the wheel with both hands and wiggle there should be no play back and forth,if so more than likely wheel bearing

 

Ok, put the car up and the wheels has a lot a play in it. I don't know how I didn't notice that when I changed the wheels.

It's not the wheel bearing I suspect though, It has something to do with the steering as both wheels have play and they move together. The center link looks to be wiggling where its connected to the ?idler arm?. I think thats what it is.

From the furthest point I can push it in to the furthest I can pivot it out there is about 5"

 

Does anyone know what to replace? just the idler arm, or should I do everything while I'm at it?
And I lied, maybe 3"

 

If the front components are original to a 25-year-old car, they no doubt need to be replaced and the steering box adjusted. That said, as JJ74 suggests, before throwing money and/or parts at the car, you'd be better served by a thorough look-see. I doubt the wheel wobble you mention is caused by a steering component.

JamesC

 

Every steering component is loose, like, really loose. I'm going to have to replace it either way and now adjust the steering box too. The engine and transmission are getting pulled this weekend and the fun will begin. I think I'll have better access to everything with an empty engine bay.

So you're saying even though the steering components are very worn there could be something else that is contributing/causing my death wobble?

 

Generally, I'd say that worn steering components create a dead spot in the steering, which causes the car to wander a bit. The wheel wobble seems more like a bearing problem from what you've said. The manual recommends cleaning and repacking those every 30K. Who knows if and when that's ever happened on your car? A bearing breakdown could destroy a spindle. I'd investigate more fully. A search here might also provide some ideas.

JamesC

 

Maybe the bad bearings caused the wear on the steering? I'll just add bearings to the to-do list also haha.

 

Take you wheel off and behind it there is a large castle nut and a cotter key going thru it. remove the cotter key and see if you can tighten it down slightly. Not to tight so it binds but enough to remove 99% of the wobble. If that doesn't fix it then while the car is jacked up and tire is on grab the tire and push on it left to right, and then top to bottom and see which has the most wobble. If there is a lot of top bottom play its ball joint if its left right its tie rod. If its both well you get the picture.

My car had some wobble to it and all i did is tighten that nut and it went away.