New Alignment - but not totaly happy

[CUDA JAS]

So got a new alignment after dropping the rear of the car and changing from fast ratio pitman and idler to stock ratio.

                  Before                 After

Caster        L 2.1  R 1.0         L 3.5   R 3.0
Camber      L 0.2  R -0.3        L -0.6  R  -0.8
Toe            L 0.30  R 0.25      L 0.10  R 0.15
Total Toe    0.55                     0.25

Rear           
Camber     L .01  R-0.3          L 0.1  R -0.3
Toe           L 0.20 R -0.35      L 0.20 R -4.0
Thrust Angle  0.3                    0.3

So that car seems to drive better..., if you let go of the wheel, the car tracks down the road straight.

However, there seems to be some play in the steering as you go down the road.  I would not say the car wanders but you certainly need to work the wheel back and forth to keep it straight.  There is no hard spot in the center, the steering is just soft at all times (so maybe that is wandering??).  It is the same at all speeds.

All parts in the front end are new, with the exception of the pitman and idler arms.  I have adjusted the steering box and there is no play there, even so much so that I had to back it off a bit as it was no longer self centering.

When you turn the wheels there does not look to be any play anywhere.  I have pulled the center link every which way with the car on the ground and again no play, nothing moves.

I have done the shim trick on the power steering pump to reduce the pressure, and there is certainly less pressure then before.

In other words, every thing seems to be ok...but I think something is wrong.  Its just not fun to drive.  About the only time you don't need to work the week is when you are in a corner, be it a long sweeper down the highway or a sharper corner in the city.

So any thoughts on what I am missing / what could be causing this...or is that just the way these cars drive???

[twalker]

Steering coupler been rebuilt lately?


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[Chryco Psycho]

Idler arm rising & falling as the wheel is turned maybe .

[blown motor]

It's not just the way they drive Jason. Mine goes straight down the road and I rarely work the wheel. All original components. Something is not quite right.

[HP_Cuda]

Worn ball joints?

Can you grab the wheel while its up in the air and giggle it?

[CUDA JAS]

Steering coupler been rebuilt lately?


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Yep...no play there either.

Worn ball joints?

Can you grab the wheel while its up in the air and giggle it?

Ball joints are 2 years old...be surprised if they are bad, but I will check.

Idler arm rising & falling as the wheel is turned maybe .

Would that be something I could see as I move the steering???

I did find one thing tonight...when checking for play in the coupler, I noticed a lot of play in the steering box. It looks like the input shaft is walking out of the box a bit. Keep in mind the car was not running at time.  I assume the play goes away once the fluid is pumping.  As I said before, there does not seem to be any play when turning the wheels with the car running.  With only a little bit of movement at the wheel you can see the tires move.


Jason

[Fern]

I had the same problem with a rebuilt steering box. No play but just didn't seem right.  Felt a little sloppy, everything was new in the front end also. Anyways I got a Firm Feel stage 3 box and all my problems went away.
Just my 2 cents

[734406pk]

I'm thinking: increase the tow in to the previous setting and try it out. This should improve your directional stability. Good luck!

[Chryco Psycho]

yes , as you rock the steering wheel you would see it moving up & down

[dodj]

yes , as you rock the steering wheel you would see it moving up & down

That's normal with power steering with the engine off? I'm asking as mine does what Jason is describing and I was thinking my rebuilt box from Steer n Gear was worn out with only 2-3000 kilometres on it.

[DocMel]

My money is on the steering box.  Its typically the last thing anyone wants to rebuild or replace.  Remember, its over 40 years old. 

[CUDA JAS]

My money is on the steering box.  Its typically the last thing anyone wants to rebuild or replace.  Remember, its over 40 years old.

Yeah I am leaning that way too.

The box is not original to the car and has never been rebuilt.

The only other thing it could be is the pitman and idler arms, they are not new either.

I am thinking of going one of two ways at this point.

Option 1 - I have a new fast ration pitman and idler arm that I could install and eliminate that as the issue.

    Con 1 - with that, I just had the alignment done and would have to reset the toe, but should be able to do that at home.
    Con 2 - I had the fast ratio arms on it before and the steering wheel is not centered with the arms on (no master spline and seems to be a  tooth off.  I could adjust the toe to center the wheel but will have uneven tie rods.

Option 2 - I have a second box that I could install.  Again not rebuilt and no idea if its a leaker or not, bought it as a core.  On the bench there seems to be very little play when you turn the input shaft. No in and out on the input, as there is on the one in the car. 

    Con - its a heck of a pain to switch out the boxes, especially for a maybe. 

Pro for both options is little to no cost for either.

I guess its time to

Jason