Hello all,
My issue is that when turning the car (71 Cutlass 455) the steering does not return to center after the turn. I have check for binding and there is none, wheels turn freely for side to side. Has anyone experience this issue? If so where should I look first the power steering pump or the steering box?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Don

 

This is going to sound strange, but how good are the tires on the front? Worn tires can inhibit RTC. Another thing is front end alignment. Both of those can have a large effect on RTC, maybe more than your steering box.

 

X2 on the alignment. Tire width and air pressure will also hinder RTC. Is the front end stock?

 

Not enough caster,wider than oe front tires or gear box.

 

Assuming that nothing is damaged or binding, I'd also check the caster. If it gets too close to zero the wheels will not straighten themselves.

 

Thank you all for your replies. The front end has been aligned including checking the caster and they check out ok. Tires are BF Goodrich T/A 235x60r15 in very good condition air pressure is 34 all around. To the best of my knowledge the front end is stock.

 

When you got your front end aligned, do you have what settings they used?

 

Did you mess with the worm gear setting on the steering gear? Sounds like its too tight.

 

Camber
Left -0.1 Right -0.4
Caster
Left -1.3 Right -0.7
Toe
Left 0.02 Right 0.01
SAI
Left 8.1 Right 8.0
Included Angle
Left 8.0 Right 7.6
Cross Camber 0.3
Cross Caster -0.6
Cross SAI 0.1
Total Toe 0.04

 

I don't have the specs for '71, but the caster specs for '65-'70 on the A body show a range of -1/2 to -2 degrees. While your numbers are within the range, there remains a bit of room to help with self-recentering of the wheels. Also you may want to bring the left and right more equal.

 

You need as much positive caster as you can get keeping both sides the same. If you want to compensate for the crown in roads you can go more on the passenger side caster than the drivers side.

Camber needs to be 0-1/2 degree negative also keeping both sides the same.

Your total toe in needs to be at 3/32.

 

X2 on steering box adjusted too tight.

 

I had the same issue after restoration and found the lower and upper shaft had been re-assembled incorrectly. When on center, the steering wheel chisel mark was in the 6 o'clock position instead of 12.

Although the alignment specs were within tolerance, and the car rolled straight, the wheel would not return to center, the turn signals and horn were erratic.

Thanks to posts on this site (specifically Joe P. and Oldcutlass), and a steering paper found on a corvette blog, I was able to find the cause and correct it. Apparently, everything else between the flange and the end of the Pittman arm are error proof.

Now, it is perfect. The steering is centered, front end aligned, steering wheel centered, and returns to center, turn signals work and the horn doesn't blow when turning the wheel. The worm gear is not under stress and most of all, the car handles like a GM car should.

Many thanks for the posts. Below is the link:
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...ev28jl2009.pdf

 

Ghorner511, thanks for your post and the link to steering paper. I'll check my steering for proper position.


Don