Camaro wandering, diagnosis?: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Aug. 29, 2011 12:50 p.m. BoostedBrandon Reader

Since the Sentra is apart, I've been driving the camaro for about the past week. It's had alignment issues for some time, but doesn't get driven enough to worry about it. Now it's alignment is........ interesting.

It almost feels as if it's wandering from one direction to another. I correct to the left, it suddenly pulls to the left and I correct to the right. At times it feels like it bounces from side to side within the play in the wheel (there is quite a bit)

The car is damn near 20 years old and as far as I know not much has been replaced. What causes this? Wear on the steering gear box? Rag joint? Both?
Aug. 29, 2011 12:54 p.m. hrdlydangerous Reader

What year Camaro is it? Third to fourth gens switched from recirculating ball to rack and pinion and each have their problems.

Either one check the obvious. Tie rod ends, ball joints, etc.

I'd check the idler arm if it's a third gen. They seem to go bad a lot on these.

Fourth gen look at the lower control arm bushings.
Aug. 29, 2011 12:55 p.m. Gearheadotaku Dork

Could need more caster, especially if you have wider than stock tires. Steering box adjustment could be wrong. Too "tight" will make it act weird. Bad rag joints seem to add play, not pull.
Aug. 29, 2011 1:11 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

20 years old and not much maintained... what shape are your bushings in? For that matter.. how old and worn are the tyres? To me.. it more sounds like a rear problem. Bad bushings on the rear allow for some strange thrust angles.

Does it get better or worse when accelerating or braking?
Aug. 29, 2011 1:32 p.m. AngryCorvair SuperDork

i'd look at the toe setting, and parts whose wear would cause toe-out, ie control arm bushings.
Aug. 29, 2011 1:37 p.m. Duke SuperDork

What happens under braking?
Aug. 29, 2011 2:36 p.m. BoostedBrandon Reader

Car is a 1992. I haven't noticed anything different under breaking or acceleration. The tires are several years old and dry rotted, and the rears are bald, oops.

The only thing under braking I can attest to is a popping noise coming from the front. I always figured that wouldn't have a ton to do with alignment, though. Idler arm was replaced ~5 years ago professionally.

Tires are 235-60-15, which I think is a little wider than stock, I'll check.
Aug. 29, 2011 2:38 p.m. itsarebuild Reader

i'm assuming 3rd gen since he said NEARLY 20 years old... that being said it would be recirculating ball steering.

i would wonder if the change in pull isnt from excessive toe in and the change in weight distribution from going back and forth with the steering favoring the grip of the outside tire that is side turned against. but it is just a guess..... i would be curious to know the answers to the effects of acceleration and braking.....
Aug. 29, 2011 2:39 p.m. itsarebuild Reader

BoostedBrandon wrote:

Car is a 1992. I haven't noticed anything different under breaking or acceleration. The tires are several years old and dry rotted, and the rears are bald, oops.

The only thing under braking I can attest to is a popping noise coming from the front. I always figured that wouldn't have a ton to do with alignment, though. Idler arm was replaced ~5 years ago professionally.

Tires are 235-60-15, which I think is a little wider than stock, I'll check.

ok... guessing ball joint
Aug. 29, 2011 5:47 p.m. hotrodlarry Reader

My '83 Z28 has 235's and it catches some of the bad lines in the road as well. I will admit that the toe settings aren't perfect, but everything under the front of car has been replaced except for the sway bar bracket bushings.

I'd say there's more than one issue that's causing the wandering. I'd check the steering system ( tie rods, idler, ball joints)for worn parts
Aug. 29, 2011 9:57 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

sounds like there are a LOT of issues affecting the wandering.

I am going to say that was it is going on. he turns and the car takes a second to take a "set" which actually pulls the car MORE into the turn. This sounds like it could be bad bushings or the bald and dryrotted tyres.

Usually bad ball joints just makes the car feel "wooly" but it could also being allowing toe to slip in and out of spec.

You got your work cut out for you
Aug. 30, 2011 12:49 a.m. novaderrik Dork

check the tie rods, idler arm, and Pitman arm- it might even help to just shoot some grease in every grease zerk you can find..