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73 charger wonders on the road.

Street fighter

Well-Known Member
Local time
2:05 PM
Joined
Aug 5, 2013
Messages
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Location
Vicksburg,Miss.
I have a 73 charger that is a really nice car to have, I get a lot of thumbs up when I drive it. I love the car but it handles bad, I have all new steering parts,It have been this way every since I bought it 30 years ago, when I drive It I have to keep my mind on keeping it in the road, I have taken it to have it checked but everything is good, could I need to have it lined up again ,the tires are not wearing so what can it be?
 
I know that many of us like to think that our cars have a soul....But I really doubt that yours wonders about anything.
:poke:
Now....If your car wanders, you probably just need a better wheel alignment with MORE caster. Hopefully you have replaced the tires since you bought it! Old tires may or may not contribute to poor handling but they surely are more likely to fail, resulting in some possible damage and personal injury.
 
When you had your alignment done, did the person doing the alignment set it to account for the road crown? Some areas have more crown to the road then others, if you do just a straight down the middle alignment, then its possible the car will want to wander to the right, is that what it is doing or is it both directions? If its both directions, it may be your castor is too far back or toe in is too far out.
 
I have a 73 charger that is a really nice car to have, I get a lot of thumbs up when I drive it. I love the car but it handles bad, I have all new steering parts,It have been this way every since I bought it 30 years ago, when I drive It I have to keep my mind on keeping it in the road, I have taken it to have it checked but everything is good, could I need to have it lined up again ,the tires are not wearing so what can it be?
Check for wear in your steering coupler. And then the steering box
 
My brothers new rebuilt gear box was his issue car had very loose steering everything was tight though ! Was able to adjust the gear box and car was 100%better
Not sure if this is your issue
 
Stand outside of your car with the window down. See how much it takes to make your tire move when moving your steering wheel back and forth. It shouldn't take much at all.

Also not having enough toe in will make a car wander. A lot of shops will set the toe in straight (distance in front of the wheel the same as the rear of the wheel). Most of the newer cars are set this way. Most of our old cars require 1/8" toe in.

I lowered a '92 Dodge Dakota with drop spindles and the instructions stated to adjust the tie rod ends one turn each. So after it was all installed I proceeded to drive it to the alignment shop. I only made it about a half a mile and I really had my hands full trying to keep it on the road. Stopped at a local store in town and borrowed a wrench and channel locks to set it back to where they were originally. Replacing the spindles didn't change the geometry and the instructions saying to change it could kill someone! I should have known better.
 
if you are still running those soft rubber isolator k frame bushings, that will definitely contribute
 
You say you have all new steering parts. Does that mean that you have replaced all of the rubber components, ball joints etc, or have you just replaced the steering box? Collectively, small amounts of wear on all of the parts can add up to a big problem.
 
How about the "rag joint" biscuit/puck?
 
Are you expecting it to drive like a new 2019 vehicle?? I was reminded of how nice the old '69 boat floated around yesterday on my first real test drive. Have missed that feeling...
 
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