gesto
Active Member
I replaced the tie rod ends on my 65 coronet and drove it 35 miles on the freeway after the alignment and it did fine. The steering was a little sloppy but no big problems. I drove it again that night and pucker up it started howling from the front driver's side while pulling to the passenger side and the steering became very unresponsive. My command of the wheel was a mere suggestion to the car. I finally got it off the freeway and limped it home.
I'm pretty sure it's bearings although there is no play in the wheels and the dust caps were not hot -- they spin just fine except for a little brake drag. I'm going to change them. Tires look really good hard radial front and old drag radials rear but I'm going to have the fronts rebalanced and I've ordered new rears. I don't notice any obvious issues with the brakes or suspension. Everything looks new. The car has less than 3,000 miles since the restoration in 2007.
But, with the engine off and the car jacked up I can grab the steering shaft right in front of the manual steering box and turn it a good 1/8 of a turn of pure slop both ways before it engages the steering box. Is that a problem? The slop is before the box. Before I try to adjust the box is there something else I should be looking at? Sorry in advance if this is a stupid question. Thanks!
I'm pretty sure it's bearings although there is no play in the wheels and the dust caps were not hot -- they spin just fine except for a little brake drag. I'm going to change them. Tires look really good hard radial front and old drag radials rear but I'm going to have the fronts rebalanced and I've ordered new rears. I don't notice any obvious issues with the brakes or suspension. Everything looks new. The car has less than 3,000 miles since the restoration in 2007.
But, with the engine off and the car jacked up I can grab the steering shaft right in front of the manual steering box and turn it a good 1/8 of a turn of pure slop both ways before it engages the steering box. Is that a problem? The slop is before the box. Before I try to adjust the box is there something else I should be looking at? Sorry in advance if this is a stupid question. Thanks!
