Suspension and steering feel like sh$% - help me diagnose!

[demon]

Hi guys and girls,

The car: 1974 Early 260Z Coupe

The problems:

1) There is alot of steering play before it 'bites' - I can move the wheel a good 10+ degrees in each direction before the steering actually catches.

2) The overall feel of the car is something similar to that of a Lincoln Town car - very 'floaty' and rocks from back to forth upon hard braking and acceleration.

3) Alot of vibration in the front of the car starting at 60mph and becoming undriveable by 80mph.

I was pretty confident the steering play was due to the previous completely worn stock rack and pinion bushings, so replaced them today with Urethane bushings - this helped, but there is still alot of play - is the steering rack the likely culprit here? Also added a Motorsport auto front sway bar and supporting urethane bushings, as well as changed the bushings on the tension rods.

The high speed vibration - most likely to be the alignment? Are there any other known weak points that could cause this?

And the general Town Car feeling - I am hoping this is either the remaining worn bushings in the car, the shocks/springs (which are of unknown mileage or quality), or a combination.

Any and all help appreciated, I love the car but it feels down right scary to drive it at any kind of speed. Thanks in advance!

[Alan Pugh]

Demon,

How long have you had the car?

Has it been stored for a long period of time before now?

It does sound like you need new strut cartridges. To test the cartridges do the bounce test. Go to each corner of the car in turn and push dow three times quickly as hard as you can and let go, the car should stop moving. If it keeps bouncing it's a good indication you need to change them.

Have you had the front wheels balanced to see if that gets rid of any of the vibration in the front end.

If you can answer these questions we can help you further.

Alan.

[demon]

Originally posted by Alan Pugh

Demon,

How long have you had the car?

Has it been stored for a long period of time before now?

It does sound like you need new strut cartridges. To test the cartridges do the bounce test. Go to each corner of the car in turn and push dow three times quickly as hard as you can and let go, the car should stop moving. If it keeps bouncing it's a good indication you need to change them.

Have you had the front wheels balanced to see if that gets rid of any of the vibration in the front end.

If you can answer these questions we can help you further.

Alan.

Hi Alan,

I've had the car for only a week now. I am not 100% sure on the previous condition of the car.

I haven't had the wheels balanced yet - the only thing's ive done are to replace the steering rack, tension rod, and tie rod end bushings with urethane ones, and switch to a 1" sway bar at the front.

Thanks in advance...

[Alan Pugh]

Demon,

What condition are the tyres in, check the side walls for damage.

Also check all your ball joints, control arm and tie rod ends, if your not sure how to check these let us know.

Alan.

[demon]

Originally posted by Alan Pugh

Demon,

What condition are the tyres in, check the side walls for damage.

Also check all your ball joints, control arm and tie rod ends, if your not sure how to check these let us know.

Alan.

What facets of the ball joints, control arms (which part of these exactly? bushings?) and tie rod ends am I looking for? Looseness? Bending? Play?

[Alan Pugh]

Ok, on the bottom of the front strut where it joins the control arm you will see the steering knucle that sits in between these two items and the tie rod is bolted to the steering knucle.

To check the ball joint on the control arm grab the wheel at the 12 o'clock position and pull and push the wheel, you shouldn't feel any clunking or movement. To check the tie rod end ball joints grab the wheel at 3 & 9 o'clock and rock the wheel, you should feel no clunking or movement other than normal wheel movement.

Also while your there check the rubber shock mount on the steering column just back from where the column joins the rack pinion.

Let me know how you go.

Alan.

[ZmeFly]

raise the car up right below the ball joints, not high just enough to get the wheel off the ground.

with the steering unlocked, check for side to side play 9with your hands at 3 and 9 oclock) then up and down play, (hands at 6 and 12) also check for wheel bearing wear.

look at your tires to see what condition they are in. are the tires wearing properly.

what you are checking is to see the components of the suspension are in good order, if not replace and then get an alignment. also get your wheels balanced.