suspension question

[bluedawg357]

hello, i am new to the forum, i have a 1976 vette, i did a few mods to the engine, but even before the engine mods @ 70 mph, if i stomp the throttle, the frontend comes up and steering gets a little wild, but if i ease into it i can take it up to 120 with good steering, dose anyone have any ideas as to what would cause this issue? is this common to vettes?

[fishslayer143@yahoo.com]

hello, i am new to the forum, i have a 1976 vette, i did a few mods to the engine, but even before the engine mods @ 70 mph, if i stomp the throttle, the frontend comes up and steering gets a little wild, but if i ease into it i can take it up to 120 with good steering, dose anyone have any ideas as to what would cause this issue? is this common to vettes?
that is not a common problem and you might have some extreme wear issues ball joint or control arm bushings , tie rods something ihas slack if your steering gets loose under power

[bluedawg357]

the front end seems tight, it's just as if the front wheels want to come off the ground, and with no wieght on them it dosent get squirely, just turns really easy, almost seems to easy.

[toobroketoretire]

the front end seems tight, it's just as if the front wheels want to come off the ground, and with no wieght on them it dosent get squirely, just turns really easy, almost seems to easy.


Wierd! The front end feels like it's getting light as you accellerate? What kind of engine mods did you make anyway? Some sort of 2000 horsepower brute of an engine? Maybe your front end IS getting light.

Seriously, it sounds like you may have an odd front end alignment issue, or you may have a stuck pressure relief valve in your steering pump. Something causing your steering pump pressure to go up as your engine rpm goes up. When you turn your steering wheel all the way to the left or right, can you hear the pressure relief valve in your pump squeal?

[vmo]

Does your steering get light at high rpms, or just at high speed?

[bluedawg357]

It only really dose it @ high speed, when i've worked up to 60, 70, or 80 mph with partial throttle and stomp the throttle all the way to the floor the car squats. off the line when i stomp on it it really squats, i figure it's supposed to do that, it get great traction. When I turn the steering wheel in either direction i here the bypass, and when ive got the car @ 5500 rpm in first it dosen't seem to do it as bad. I have new monroe shocks all the way around, and wonder if maybe the shocks should be more stiff in the rear, or maybe the rear leaf is to worn ............ Since toobroke asked the engine is really nothing special, the only mods thats ive done to the engine are edelbrock performer rpm aluminum cylinder heads with 64cc combution chamber pulling the l-48 compression up to 9.5 to 1, port matched weiand action plus aluminum intake, holley 600 cfm w 50cc accelerater pump with .040'' discharge nozzle, hooker comp ceramic coated long tube headers, 2-1/2'' aluminum coated true duals, flowmaster 40 series mufflers, im not real sure on the cam shaft, it was in there when i got the car, it had a slightly lumpy idle, and i didn't have the money to rent a lift as to change the cam shaft so i put 1.6 to 1 ratio comp roller tip rockers which really seemed to wake the combination up, haven't dynoed it, but feels as if i've almost doubled the torque

[freshselect]

Yeah have you checked the power steering control valve...? I had this same issue... It feels like with a small movement of the steering wheel the car can swerve from one side of the expressway to the other side. (3 or 4 lanes)
:eek2:
It is quiet scary when going 100 TRUST ME! haha :P

You have to experience some rush sometime sooner or later!!! haha :D
:thumbsup3:
But yes be safe and don't do that!
:patriot:
But like I Said Check the Power Steering Control Valve... I bought mine from CorvetteCentral.com and my steering works like a beauty now!

:)

Hope you get that fixed soon to drive it around...

[bluedawg357]

how do you check the power steering control valve, when i turn the wheel to the left or right, i hear a small hiss, but i am not for sure thats what you ment?

[freshselect]

Well the steering should be easily to move left or right with a small movement of the steering wheel and it makes it feel loose and out of control at around 60+

Also the hissing I do not remember the hissing but it sounds about right to me...

And also what you could do is adjust it to see if it's fixable rather than purchasing a new one. Theres a screw and nut that you adjust to correct the power steering control valve and that should fix the issue. IF the control valve is still good and IF NOT then you need to buy a new one.

Here's the link on how to do it! GoodLuck!

http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette-tech-article-c3-c2-power-steering-control-valve+1963+1982-1-320-3861.html

[bluedawg357]

Thanks alot, I will check it out tomorrow evening, and let you no what i come up with.

[toobroketoretire]

how do you check the power steering control valve, when i turn the wheel to the left or right, i hear a small hiss, but i am not for sure thats what you ment?


The hiss you hear when you turn your steering wheel ALL the way to either side is your power steering pump's relief valve opening.

[bluedawg357]

it dosen't seem to be the control valve, i figure that its got to be in the suspension. I could stiffen up the rear suspension, but don't want to loose the traction that i get when romping on it. so i don't know what direction to go with it.

[Art Knigge]

I have a few more horsies than you and have no problem. I installed the f-4 front and rear springs. I think they are a good idea for a performance car. Contact Vette Brake and Products (VBP).