Topic: wandering
in Forum: C3 Handling Components
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I just posted about a flat spot ( a brief hang up) felt in the steer wheel when turning and I forget to ask all, My 81 C3 also wanders, not horrific but almost annoying. It is definitely a two hand on the wheel car. So i'm wondering if for the most part they all do it??
PS everything seems tight and I do have a new steer box and rags.
Thanks guys!!!!
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You most likely need a wheel alignment (all 4). If the rear is out the car will not track straight.
You need to find a guy who knows how to do an alignment on one of these cars.
Dave
Lifetime Member #116
Dave's '82 
Dave, she will track straight on a flat smooth road (almost hands off) any other surface and any slight turning variations have her wanting to continue in the the direction of the turn. Course corrections then require a few back and forth (two hands and VERY easy) wheel corrections.
I have had her aligned a few times, but nobody around palm beach, florida knows hot to dial in the rear (just my opinion)
Thanks
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20218
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Sounds like you need to find someone who can actually DO an alignment on one of these cars. I mean a REAL alignment, not just setting the toe. From you description, you may need to have more caster in the front than what it has now, since it seems to want to go into the initial turn, but not straighten out properly.
Rear alignment on these things is a pita to begin with, and it's getting harder and harder to find someone that CAN do them, and WILL do them. A lot of the "Corvette" shops don't really have anyone that is properly trained on the '63-'82 cars, regardless of what they may tell you. Since there isn't a big call for them on a daily basis, they don't bother. It sucks, but that's the truth of it. Too bad Chris(Petris) isn't still in Florida.....he could fix you up and do it RIGHT.
Rear alignment on these things is a pita to begin with, and it's getting harder and harder to find someone that CAN do them, and WILL do them. A lot of the "Corvette" shops don't really have anyone that is properly trained on the '63-'82 cars, regardless of what they may tell you. Since there isn't a big call for them on a daily basis, they don't bother. It sucks, but that's the truth of it. Too bad Chris(Petris) isn't still in Florida.....he could fix you up and do it RIGHT.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
My Link 
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
I would check the bearings, ball joints, idler arm, and rag for play, the alignment shops should have found any of those bad but who knows. Is there any play in the steering wheel when you have it centered going down the road? Do you see any threads above the jam nut on the box cover?
There is minimal play in the steering wheel, the rag is new as are the control arms and i have several threads above the jam nut. I haven't checked bearings? I guess i will pull the wheels.
As for Alignment, nobody wants to touch the rear? I am still looking for someone in florida.
Greetings:
When I first bought my '79, it was pretty much a basket case. It ran but needed gobs and gobs of TLC. I had a problem with it wandering also. It was a fight just to go straight down the street. When I took it in to get the rear bearings serviced, they found that my rear spring had lost it's arch. This forced the side yokes into the differential. This wore about 3/8" off the end of both yokes, well past the snap ring on the end. This meant that my axles were free to move around back there! The rear end was steering the car! What started out to be about $600 ended up being $2500 when they got done. To be safe, I also replaced the rag joint and all that took care of the wandering. I might add that my vette had 96,000 miles on it when I bought it. Hope this is helpful for you. Good luck.
Toolmaker
Also the control valve may be a problem.
While the car is running, turn the steering wheel back and forth. Have another person look at the pitman arm as it connects into the control valve. If there is play on the stud, the control valve need to be replaced. Since you have a newer steering box and rag joint installed.
While the car is running, turn the steering wheel back and forth. Have another person look at the pitman arm as it connects into the control valve. If there is play on the stud, the control valve need to be replaced. Since you have a newer steering box and rag joint installed.
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in Forum: C3 Handling Components
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