well here is the latest .. once again I sat in my garage twisting on the right rear rotor trying to see what (if anything was happening to cause the rear to want to pass the front) .. I even used some "cheater" bars to get better leveage and pushed with the left and pulled with the right and nothing .. so I mounted the tire .. I don't know why put I put my hands at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock and push with the left and pulled with the right .. and there was movement .. I moved my hands to the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock position and repeated the procedure and got the same results .. no matter where around the tire I placed my hands I got the same movement .. so I thought would I get the same movement if I pushed in with both hands and then pulled out with both hands .. well as near as I can tell there was no movement .. if I didn't know any better I would think that the wheel is not fitting properly on the axle .. is that possible??
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Re: C3 handling issue-revisited-more information
Sounds very likely to me that it is time to replace the right rear wheel bearing. If it's loose enough for you to reef it around it's shot and will "add to" the handling characteristics you are describing. Check the other side for the same symptom.
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Re: C3 handling issue-revisited-more information
It depends on how much movement. Some is normal.Comment
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Re: C3 handling issue-revisited-more information
I jacked up the other side of the car and performed the same test .. no movement that would be described as excessive .. the movement I see on the pass right rear .. is visibly noticable .. hard to guess but could be 1/16 or so maybe more at the tire's edgeComment
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Re: C3 handling issue-revisited-more information
The specs are .001 to .008 clearence at the bearing. .008 projected out toward the edge of the tire is a very noticable amount. You have to determine if it is within specs., but I can tell you that it would take a bunch of play to cause any real effect on handling.Comment
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Re: C3 handling issue-revisited-more information
I just went down and read through the former thread on this subject. I suggested that you adjust the PS valve. I notice in your last post that you had not done this or just couldnt believe this could be the cause. believe me ADJUST the valve.Comment
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Re: C3 handling issue-revisited-more information
Wayne:
What is the "PS valve"
JimComment
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Re: C3 handling issue-revisited-more information
Power Steering Control Valve, The valve that has all of the fluid lines going to it. It has a centering adjustment in the end, and absolutely has to be balanced or it will pull and exibit the symptoms noted. Many alignment shops feel the pull and adjust casters to compensate, not knowing about the valves adjustment. This makes the pull seem to go away, but results in a serious twitch feel to the steering, exibiting the characteristic of being very quick to one side and hard or normal to the other.Comment
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Re: C3 handling issue-revisited-more information
I told you in the initial thread that I believe the problem is in the rear of your car and my opinion hasn't changed. Your description of the car feeling like it's "coming around" in one direction says rear end slop to me.
Now, that having been said, I think you've located your problem with the loosness in one wheel. It would seem obvious that with a difference in one side to the other that this would account for a different feel when turning to one side or the other. I would also expect a slight difference in feel when accelerating/decelerating. You said it felt like the wheel wasn't fitting properly. If the problem was in this area it would have long since wallowed lugs, possibly breaking studs and come off the car. There are two areas that will cause this loose feeling and you can easily determine which one or both by performing your same 12 oclock/6 oclock tire pull. Just have someone under the car (with it properly supported on stands or a lift of course) and do the same pull. It's easy to see if the spindle is moving around in the bearings, or if the yoke has excessive end clearance, allowing it to slide in and out of the rear end. (or both) Worn posi traction clutches also contribute to this extra yoke clearance. Either of these conditions will allow the slack you're experiencing, which of coarse will let the rear camber on that side vary as the load varies with turning or power. (acceleration/deceleration) In the case of the sloppy yoke in the rear end the rear toe in will vary more with worn yokes than loosness at the spindle assembly. As I said previously, I doubt that a non Corvette familiar alignment shop would be sharp enough to catch either of these variables and they're both VERY COMMON. An improperly adjusted steering valve may somewhat multiply your problem but I think it's unlikely that it's the root of it.Comment
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Re: C3 handling issue-revisited-more information
I have a '65 that the back end actually picked up and came around on me. it was in the rain. The car did a 360 spin. It drove like this every time it rained. Sometimes a little spooky in the dry. I first thought it was the recap 7.75 tires that were on it. I changed the right rear wheel bearing and had the alignment re-set. Problem cured. The car did not have PS.
I had a '77. Drove the same way on dry pavement. Never drove it in the rain as the cowl leaked too bad. The PS control valve WAS adjusted and it was still squirelly to the right side. The control arm bushings were loose on both sides and the radius rod bushings were shot. So was the right rear wheel bearing. I replaced only the wheel bearing and the problem mostly went away. What was left, I attributed to the slop in the suspension. At least it was predictable.
I, like Norris think your problem is in the rear.
I not arguing with anyone's opinion, just been there twice.
I would think if you could roll your car across a flat paved surface with your hands off the wheel and the car goes straight, you PS valve is okay.
MikeComment
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Re: C3 handling issue-revisited-more information
You guys may be right on track, but in my many years of working on these cars, I have seen very few that actually were squirilly from normal rear suspension looseness. I mean those with normal type wear. I have seen them come in with the ends of the yokes worn off, the keepers long gone, and the camber so far negative that the U-joints buzzed, but were solid feeling when driven. I do however get many in that there is a problem with or the PS valve is missadjusted, that will make them nearly undrivable. That is why I suggested adjusting it first. If it is good, then look elsewhere, but its about the easiest thing that you can do to check, and certainly it has to be correct before anything elses will feel right. Jack the car up so the front wheels clear the ground and carefully start the car without touching the steering wheel. If you see the steering wheel even twitch, there is a problem and it needs to be adjusted. Now let me tell you a funny. I have had on at least two occasions, customers that actually drove their cars with bad rear wheel bearings untill the wheel literally fell off. Now they must have been bad for quite some time. One guy when asked if he hadn`t heard or felt anything as a warning before it failed, said " I dont know, I was about drunk and had the radio wide open".Comment
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Re: C3 handling issue-revisited-more information
Hey Dale and Abigail:
Whadya' find out was wrong????????Comment
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