once i get on the highway and start driving 70+mph the steering gets very sloppy the wheel can be moved left and right without much response, the car is a lot harder to control i drift within my lane... sometimes it can be scary.. i must look like a drunk driver, any advice on what i need to fix here

 

Your thirdgen is probably a lot like many others with a a lot of miles on it. A complete front end rebuild would probably be a good thing to do to it. From the sounds of the way your car is behaving I would say check the idler arm. It sounds to me like it may have exsessive play in it. If you don't have the time or money to do a complete rebuild, putting a new idler arm on will tighten it up a bit. Don't go get the Auto Zone special part, pay a little extra and get Moog parts,its worth it in the long run.

 

I just got a new idler arm... what gives?
could it be junk again...

 

EVERY single f-body that has ever come through our compound has NEEDED a center drag link ..... EVERY single one .... I
replace them on cars I drive and/or sell ..
symptoms are just as you describe and most shops will tell you its the gear box too !! why ?? because a center drag link is $30 bux and a gear box is 450 +++ !!!! if oyu think your box is bad ..more than likely its the drag link !! unless you have 300k+ miles !!

 

a what????


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88' GTA 350 MODS---> air foil, K&N, Shift Kit, 180* therm, TB bypass

 

Yeah, no kidding.. what is a center drag link

 

A center link. It connects the inner tie-rod ends, pitman arm, and idler arm all together. It has one joint that wears out--at the point it connects to the pitman arm.

A screwed up alignment can cause a problem like yours, or at least make it worse. Go to a reputable shop and have the front end completely checked out, replace the worn parts, adjust the steering box, check the rag joint, and have it aligned to some performance specs. Most body shops that have a frame machine know their way around the front of a car.

....If you want to do the repair yourself, just have an estimate done that shows all the worn parts.


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350 with stealth intake, holley carb, 470 lift cam. 700r4 with .5 boost valve, vette servo, tci lock-up kit, B&M megashifter. Richmond 3.73 gears, powertrax locker, timkin bearings, synthetic lube. Custom 3 inch single into 2 2.5 pipes. 1 1/2 drop springs, 1 5/16 solid front sway bar, 1 inch rear bar, custom subframe connectors, custom LCA relocation brackets. Kobel ground FX, current red metallic paint. Lots of other stuff...
82camaro


[This message has been edited by 82camaro (edited August 16, 2001).]

 

Also known as a relay rod.

 

I have EXACTLY the same problem with my Formula which has 87,000 miles. I have also replaced my idler arm. Did you do any of the suggestions in this post/ did they work?

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89' Firebird Formula
Black/grey cloth
305 TPI/5 speed/3.45 rear
dual cats/PW,PL/T-tops
K&N, SLP TB booster,
SLP exhaust, Jet chip

 

TVP123,
can you please explain the center drag link a little better, I'd like to replace it and I'm not sure whats involved. Thanx man.