The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline I have wandering issue.

Not me my 1954 3100 pickup. I never noticed before now, after the installation of a Pacer front end and a 1960s Impala steering column 30 years ago. I had new tires installed at the beginning of this month and if you had not heard I did not get far on my trip to KC. I am thinking maybe that rubber connector on the bottom of the steering shaft. Or maybe I should install a steering stabilizer. What say you all?

I would get the alignment checked first. Something may have worn in the front suspension, throwing alignment off. That could easily cause it to wander.

Now, that's funny Ron.

Need to toe in

Ron,

If a "rag joint" was used to connect your Impala steering column to the Pacer steering (not sure what you have as I don't think I have ever seen a picture of your actual front suspension/steering details), that could be a possible source of the truck wandering down the road.

I would 2nd Kevin's suggestion to have the front suspension thoroughly checked for wear and alignment, especially if it hasn't been gone through since you had it built/installed.

Of course, there might be a little wandering eye or wandering mind going on as you tool about your locale. Just saying my friend - haha!

A steering stabilizer isn't going to help you out, at least at this point. A chauffeur with a stead driving hand may though.

Dan

There is a small amount of loose feeling when you move the steering wheel. A little to the left or right without and feeling of connection. Very very small. Thanks all. Yes, Dan even at 80 I still like the ladies, even in my casket, I will still will be peering over the side, metaphysically, to see who is walking by.

We get complaints at work when we install new tires on school buses. The new rubber is much soften than the old tires, drivers always complain its all over the road.

Ron,

Only thing left to say on the "very very small" feeling of movement "left or right without any feeling of connection" is if it is concerning enough for your to worry about, get it checked out for your own peace of mind.

Hope your day is good!

Dan

PS - I moved this conversation to the Driveline forum as the best place to dicsuss "steering" questions.

Do you have a conventional steering box or a rack & pinion? There's a sector gear preload adjustment on a regular steering box that most alignment shops either don't know about, or choose not to do unless the customer insists on it. It can cause the wandering you're describing. PM me for details.
Jerry

It is a rack and pinion, an AMC Pacer front suspension. While sitting behind the steering wheel you can induce a small movement left and right without the tires moving. I had new tires installed 2 days before I left for JDL and Missouri. It just seemed light and needed slight corrections.This is it.

I'd start with an alignment. They should be able to tell if anything is worn and needs replaced.

I wish had thought of letting you drive it before I went back home. It is not like when you were a kid and steered back and forth pretending to drive. Just a small movement like it is not connected. It does not wander. When I left your place all I was concentrating on was getting home. In this town, there does not seem any place to take it and know what to do with it. Even though it has an AMC Pacer front suspension.

Ron, if you took an AMC Pacer itself anywhere they wouldn't know what to do with it. If it isn't in their computer, they're clueless.

My '03 Tacoma has a little of the same problem. If I am setting still, the steering wheel can move ever so slightly back and forth with no movement of the tires, it's kinda hard to explain what it feels like. I don't notice it while driving and doesn't seem to cause any problems, but come to a stop, I can wiggle the wheel and feel it. Feels like slop in the teeth, but only in the straight ahead position.

Joe H, you got it. It is not dangerous but annoying. When I had other things to concentrate on like driving In Indy traffic at night with no turn signals. My son lives in Fishers, an Indy suburb and I have driven this road many many times in the last 50 years. Scary when you can't indicate your intention and are hoping the issues I had going down don't reappear. OTTO, believe it or not, I can guide him. before he gets to the wonder I will have some good suggestions from here and I will do some research on the Pacer. As is the story of my life the Mustang 2 conversion became prominent the year after I had the Pacer suspension installed.