While cruising this weekend, I hooked up with a friend who has a 78 shark demonstrating some bad "pulling" habits. For no apparent reason at any time the car pulls sharply and hard to the right. He hasn't been able to trace the problem so it's sat out most of the summer. It does have power steering. I told him I'd toss it out to the gurus of the site for the best places to recheck. Any feedback appreciated. I've got to get his head checked as he was talking of selling it and getting a family sedan???

Don't let him do it!!! It sounds like a loose power steering pump valve or just not enough grease in the linkage. Mine did a similar thing some time ago and once i greased all the front end lube points the problem disappeared.

You will usually find any loose items while you are doing this as well. Also if the back end has sagged at all the fronts initial wheel alignment which is set up for the car sitting at the correct height may be out. This could show up as erratic steering as well.

Do the grease thing and check for loose suspension and steering joints and take the action needed. It shouldn't cost too much.

I had the same problem. While turning right the valve pressure changed too quickly and it turned fast at a certain point. I found the steering control valve was not working correctly. There is a cap you can pull off and make an adjustment to balance the steering. With the front wheels off the ground, start the car, if it pulls then the valve needs adjusting. If the piston rod remains retracted turn the nut clockwise, if it extends turn the nut counter-clockwise (but only until the rod starts to move). Turn off the car, straighten your front wheels and try it again. When the steering wheel doesn't move, the valve should be balanced. If this does not work, the valve may be bad and possibly need to be replaced.


--Eric

Thanks for the input guys, I'll pass it on.