pulls to the right under acceleration

[WhiteFish]

my 73 cuda pulls right under acceleration then when I let off it goes left (maybe just going back to straight)  It's enough that I have to correct with the steering wheel.  I want to fix it this winter.  What I'm thinking is most likely leaf spring bushings shot, or just the right front one.  My buddy says the posi can cause this too, not driving the right tire as much as the left.  Is there any where else I should look?

[GoodysGotaCuda]

i'm not sure on the suregrip causing that. does it do it only from a dead stop? i'd go ahead check the leaves, center bolts, bushings, u-bolts, etc.

[hemi71]

If the center bolt of the leaf springs was broke, the car would "crab" down the road...but that would be the same under acceleration or coasting, unless you hear it bang when you accelerate. Check the rear tires clearance on each side to see if each side is at the same location in the body. I'd lean towards a front end alignment problem, when you accelerate the front of the car goes up and unloads the front suspension...which changes the geometry of the suspension and might be an issue if your alignment is out of wack.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

 

 I have a hunch the problem might be in the front end.  


  Mike

[GoodysGotaCuda]

If the center bolt of the leaf springs was broke, the car would "crab" down the road...but that would be the same under acceleration or coasting, unless you hear it bang when you accelerate.

Welp. About 3 weeks ago i replaced my broken center bolt. It didnt crab, it didnt bang, it didn't pull till i nailed it. It drifted to the right, and the ass end would torque to the right...Just saying from my personal experience with a broken center bolt on a ebody was...

[WhiteFish]

it really "feels" like it's in the rear, if that's detectable, but I will still check out the front end.  It doesn't crab down the road.  If I let go of the wheel at cruising it goes straight.  If I accelerate a little it pulls just a little, the harder I accelerate, the more it wants to pull.

[ksierens]

Does it have power steering?  When I was a mechanic, I seem to remember problems with Chryslers pulling and it was sometimes due to the over-center adjustment of the valve in the steering box.  It was usually noticeable when you started the car on the alignment rack (because the fronts were on the swivel plates) and the steering wheel would jump to one side or the next.  To correct it I think all we did was to loosen the bolts that hold down the valve and tap it to one side or the other until the steering wheel stopped moving when it was started.

[WhiteFish]

my apologies everyone, hard to help a guy trouble shoot if you assume all his bolts are tight.  GoodyGC had the right idea. He wins a prize. The center bolt is broken, but worse than that the u-bolts were loose enough to see gaps between the leaves.  Although you guys all seem like "stand-up" guys, and the last thing you would do is not let a guy live it down, I'm not telling who worked on the rearend last.  That could have been a real ugly situation, ever crank a rear steer forklift at a good speed? side note: other side was all tight.   

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Well atleast its pretty easy! NAPA had the bolts for me, $1.70 or so. Just used a c-clamp to hold them tight while i fitted things in. Shouldn't be too bad. I broke my center bolt in three pieces, i only had two left on the car  Didn't happen until the meats got on the back