Heres the deal here, for some reason, my car handles and feels like sh|t to drive. What I mean by this is that there always seems to be some weight, or somthing that pulls my wheels to one side when I leave dead center with the steering wheel. Like, when I go to turn, the wheel just pulls out towards that direction, and I gotta work to keep it straight. And when I got to make a turn, I hear, A)Poping noise (Its sounds like Metal on Metal) B)REAL Stress coming from the engine compartment C)My wheels will pull hard to the left or right (Depending on which way I'm steering) even if that not what I'm aiming to do, and by this I mean, when turning, the wheels just pull themselves left or right like theres a million pounds behind them (I know that the engines up there, but still. I drove an '83 Z28 and it handled BEAUTIFULLY, and compared to that car, I feel like I'm driving a Chevette), then theres either grinding or a poping like metal is rubbing together.

I need to know where and what type of bushings I need to buy. I also need to know what in the name of *** makes it so annoying to handle! I thought it might be the steering box, cause I just put on a new Power Steering Pump and fresh hoses (Fresh Fluid also, though its turned Rust Brown). Other than that I dunno what to do I wanna get this reseolved, cause it sounds HORRIBLE and makes it the most annoying thing I can think of to drive. I need to tighten it up some how I think, then make it so that it actually steers properly. Any help is welcome, and any suggestions are awesome. Please, for the love of my car, HELP!!!

Thanks

Adam

 

hmmm that sounds a little severe....check the area where your steering box mounts to the frame, hopefully it's not cracked!!! if is, i'd take it to a good body shop and make sure they weld it up real nice...w/ a bunch of plates up there! otherwise, it could be: balljoints, inner or outer tie rod ends, centerlink, idler arm, LCA bushings, struts or springs...thats all thats up there, and i wouldnt count anything out!!

 

Hmmmm, I checked the bushings last night, and thought that some looked like they were in need of Grease. But they also looked tiny and kinda Deflated, but I dunno what there supposed to look like. Can someone take a picture of there Front end suspension and bushings or what not and post it so I can compare?? Also, that crack behind the steering box, does anyone have a pic of what it looks like?

Thanks Z_85, I really appreciate it

Adam

 

GoldenSwordZ28, my '91 was doin' exactly the same thing. Hit a crack in the pavement and whoa! it goes that way, etc. Also that firm but smooth new car ride was way gone, always had a variable speed vibration. I don't know all of what is wrong but I'm workin' my way through it and beginning to really suspect those a-arm bushings. You can follow and hopefully contribute to my misadventures at this thread..https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...threadid=90230

 

sounds like alignment issue to me. i run an alignment shop in orlando. www.asbdcnow.com/tredalign cam also be wheel bearings, tie rods, ball joints, or any myriad of things combined. just need to go over the whole car and find out what needs replacing along with an alignment. and also need to look at the frame area for cracks as mentioned. i'm in orlando. call me at (407)295-7073 and we'll discuss more in detail.

 

I would have to say that it is your ball-joints. If your ball-joints are bad, bumbs hit hard and jut from side to side.

 

Oh man


Im having the same problem with my GTA! I seems almost as if a metal piece or rod is cliking in the front end, evrytime u hit a crack or bump.

I ordered the whole front end kit of Energie Suspension. Im gonna have it done in a couple of week when the car comes out of storage.

If anybody has had anyking of front end kit with polyurithane bushing installed, please tell me whatkind of differences you witnessed and how it feels when u drive.

Thanks for yur time

 

Hey, The easiest way to determin if you have a crack in the frame where the steering box mounts is to have the car on pavement and have a friend turn the wheel back and fourth while the hood is open and while you are looking at the steering box. I have seen two cars now that would make you want to have the vehicle towed from where they sat. Anyway I am in the process of repairing my own ride. Also, though discontinued, you can still find a few factory reinforcements bars that bolt on at the sway bar mounting holes that greatly strengthen the front end. If you currently don't have frame problems, I would still reinforce the front end, chances are likely that someday you'll have a problem without it. If you cannot find the factory reinforcement, it is easy to have fabbed. all you do is take two 3/16 in steel plates, drill two holes in each one that are the same as the sway bar to frame brackets and weld a stright one inch box tube from one side to another, and mount assembly between sway bar to fram mounts and frame.

 

Also, it was already mentioned, but the front suspension's center link (connects to inner tie rods, idler arm, and pitman arm) and the idler arm are "wear" items... meaning, it's common for 'em to wear out on our cars. I had handling that was sloppy as hell, when I was going straight, my hands were going back and forth on the steering wheel- turned out those two pieces were shot.