She feels loose, PtII...input?

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  #21  
Old 09-28-2009, 04:04 PM
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Sounds like you're close to resorting to wanting to use "bigger bullets" on the car.
You need to look at everything that was replaced, and what wasn't. What's left that hasn't been touched? Are you even sure the problem is in the front? If your rear axle is dancing around, it can steer the car in the wrong direction. Are your panhard/lateral bars ok? Does it feel like a handling problem in general, or like the steering is getting yanked out of your hand?
 
  #22  
Old 09-28-2009, 08:25 PM
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May want to look at the subframe bolts, a shifting subframe can do some weird things. Also, as Camaro 69 indicated, a blown out strut can really make the car dance.
 
  #23  
Old 09-28-2009, 10:11 PM
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The ONLY thing on the front end thats not new is the steering gearbox and the steering column. Ive been replacing parts in an effort to fix this problem for about 2 years now. The rear end? I replaced the control arm bushings and the springs back there too.

The problem most definitively feels like its coming from the front end. Its almost like your driving a big, heavy car that wants to fight you out of a turn. Turn in, she bops out again. Its not a violent jerk but a heavy tug.

Im gonna look closer at the steering shaft tomo. Im out of ideas.
 
  #24  
Old 09-28-2009, 10:12 PM
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Have you replaced the bushings? I replaced all of mine with Energy Suspension and Prothane bushings (with the exception of the front control arm bushings, haven't gotten around to doing them) and it REALLY tightened the car up.

I have all original steering components and ball joints, with new bushings and shocks/struts and my 83 Z cruises down the interstate at 75mph like she's on rails, and handles comparably to many new sports cars.

As mentioned, don't overlook the rear end either.
 
  #25  
Old 09-28-2009, 11:30 PM
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The ONLY urethane that hasnt been replaced are the rear sway arms.

Mine goes down the highway at 75 like a drunk guy on a bicycle with a bent rim!

If its not one thing its another!
 
  #26  
Old 09-29-2009, 01:44 AM
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when did u have the front end aligned?
 
  #27  
Old 09-29-2009, 09:51 AM
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Last winter I did upper and lower ball joints, center link, tie rod ends, pittman arm, and all associated bushings. The first week out of winter storage I had her aligned. So shes got less than 1 full summer on all the new parts......
 
  #28  
Old 09-29-2009, 09:57 AM
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what shape are the front tires in? what size are they? how much play in the steering and has it improved at all with your work?
 
  #29  
Old 09-29-2009, 10:27 AM
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Tires are stock, cant remember off the top of my head. There has been very little improvement with all my suspension work. Steering wheel has about 15 degrees of play each way. Its nasty cold and raining today, I cant get to look at her. Im going to have one person move the wheels, one person hold the steering wheel and Im gonna find where all this damn play is coming from!
 
  #30  
Old 09-29-2009, 10:44 AM
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try rotating the tires too.
 
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