WANDERING CUTTY

[78 Green Lemans]

My 78 Lemans with 95000mi had the same issue, i tightened up the steering gear and it helped a little but not alot, new idler arm, again a small improvement, then i put in camaro front coils, new upper and lower ball joints and drop spindles. Now with the exception of badly rutted pavement mine tracks straight. I also did the camaro quick ratio box and camaro rear coils, the rear helped eliminate the sloppy side to side movement back there and i havent even put my rear sway bar in yet.
My coils were very soft and i did have a lower ball joint that seemed pretty sloppy once it was apart but i couldnt tell when i checked with everything together.

 

[turbo78]

My 78 Lemans with 95000mi had the same issue, i tightened up the steering gear and it helped a little but not alot, new idler arm, again a small improvement, then i put in camaro front coils, new upper and lower ball joints and drop spindles. Now with the exception of badly rutted pavement mine tracks straight. I also did the camaro quick ratio box and camaro rear coils, the rear helped eliminate the sloppy side to side movement back there and i havent even put my rear sway bar in yet.
My coils were very soft and i did have a lower ball joint that seemed pretty sloppy once it was apart but i couldnt tell when i checked with everything together.

that is how the balljoints work, you dont get much play out of them without the weight of the vehicle completely on the suspension.

 

[78 Green Lemans]

My 78 Lemans with 95000mi had the same issue, i tightened up the steering gear and it helped a little but not alot, new idler arm, again a small improvement, then i put in camaro front coils, new upper and lower ball joints and drop spindles. Now with the exception of badly rutted pavement mine tracks straight. I also did the camaro quick ratio box and camaro rear coils, the rear helped eliminate the sloppy side to side movement back there and i havent even put my rear sway bar in yet.
My coils were very soft and i did have a lower ball joint that seemed pretty sloppy once it was apart but i couldnt tell when i checked with everything together.

that is how the balljoints work, you dont get much play out of them without the weight of the vehicle completely on the suspension.

I checked with the car lifted and the suspension hanging, with no weight on it.
But yes you are right, you cant check balljoints with the weight on the suspension, or much of anything on the front end for that matter.

 

[crucial118]

Thanx guys. I'm pretty sure it's a combo of everything. Like I said, I haven't replaced any suspension parts on the car yet. So, I'm pretty sure it needs springs, shocks, ball joints, and swaybar bushings, etc. But, I'll probably start with the ragjoint first. Never thought that it could be that.

 

[turbo78]

the center link houses the tie rod ends for the idler and pitman. very common to need those replaced. idler arm pivots occasionally wear too, but ide be willing to put my money on it being rag, box, or balljoints.

 

[billyjack]

X2 on the center link. While all other parts can be contributing to the wandering, the center link and idler arm are the most common causes. I couldn't find any noticeable slop in mine, but I replaced both on general principle, since my Camino had 115K on the clock. I was truly amazed at how much the front end tightened up. Ball joints, bushings and tie rods are all still original, and will likely stick around a while, since everything feels so nice and tight now. I was so happy that I treated my 1 1/4" sway bar to new poly bushings and end links.
Bill

 

[crucial118]

Good lookin and Thanx guys. Checked today and my sway bar end links were shot, rubber gone. Going to get poly end links and bushings this weekend. I'm sure that had a lot to do with it.

 

[turbo78]

every little bit can help