The Camaro Club (UK)

Hello everyone iam new to this site so please be gentle. Iam a big v8 fan always have been so jumped at the chance to buy a camaro off a mate some 4 or 5 years ago had a few teething problems to start with ie the tranny gave up the day after i bought it! yes it was from a mate so we, well i bought a new tci 350 for it he fetched it and we fitted it, well after a couple of years of running it with big smiles family trouble wiped the smile, the car was put to bed in a shipping container and there it has remained for the last 2 years. I now find amidst the rubble of life a little bit of spare time and figured why not bring her out into the sunshine again? so here iam, thought i'd bother you lot with a couple of niggling problems i know wont have gone away. for now anyway heres number one problem, steering.... zero feel at the wheel no self centering constantly having to correct the direction is a pain in the ass! i can drive in a circle without holding the wheel!!! fancy some strip action this year but dont think i could i would dare any silly speed for fear of loosing it. Any advice would be greatfully recived i have checked the tracking camber and castor all seems to be ok, i dont know mechanically where to look next, any suggestions please. Thanks in advance. Ant.

Hi Ant,

Welcome to the froum

We need pictures!

Sounds as though your steering box has thrown it's toys! Get it checked, assuming it's power steering, make sure the pump is ok, bleed the system, check the hoses for leaks...

Cheers,
Mark

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'68 Camaro

Sounds like steering, but check the tyres too..

and hello and welcome

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“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

Thankyou gents, steering box...?? yes it is power steered, replaced a hose once. so this steering box are there any easy fixes? is pop down the scrapyard and get one from a donner car an option? or am i looking at getting a new one?
As for pics well youll have to wait a bit till she comes out of hiding! i can tell you though its black! thanks once again. Oh hope to pull the engine soon to fit a new stroker crank so much to do so little time, want to be on the road for the garys picnic meet at shakey, do forum members meet up at such events? looking forward to easter at santa pod too! Good night.

Hmm silly me in hot rod mode again, no quick fixes or donnors so looking at new one any links to suppliers you trust would be greatfully recived. thanks.

hello and welcome! check the suppliers topic board on the main forum page, has a few to pick from on there. I've alway used NPD for parts like these. Cheers!

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Welcome !
I could not believe how much better mine was with new tyres. Worth a good look.

Hi Ant, welcome to the club & forum, don't forget we like pics here .Ok to your problems with the steering. When the engine is running, with the wheels pointing straight forward, how much play is there in the steering wheel before the wheels start to move?? Do you know if the front suspension been taken apart on the car at any time, ie upper & lower A arms?? The symptoms that you have sound as if the car has too little caster set into the suspension geometry. If the suspension has been taken apart, then it's not to say that the geometry is now correct. The caster is adjusted by removing shims from the upper A arms & replacing them at the front or rear bolt as needed .

With the caster set correctly, at most speeds, the car will self centre when the steering wheel is turned, regardless of how bad the steering box is.

Check how much play is in the steering when the wheel is turned first, but I think you'll find it's a caster problem hth

cheers....Nige

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Too much power...not enough hands!!

Hello folks thanks for the advice checked the tyres stu and the appear to be ok and wearing evenly.
Iallso checked the shims on the A arms thanks nige i think we may be on to something here the off side has 2 fine shims, the nearside has 2 big shims so i guess this is where the problem is, i have been assured by my mate ex owner of the car that the castor and camber is set correctly but needed the shims to get the result but he couldnt shed any light on how i can cure the steering problem i suppose i could remove the larger shims and replace them with fine ones but that would only be moving the problem elsewhere. Iam due to start pulling the motor tomorrow- mondaywhen its out i will have room to inspect the whole set up. dose anybody have any good ideas as to how i can check the geometry when the motor is out? ive been told to find someone with a jig also stick new wishbones on but i would like to see if i can identify the problem before taking any drastic or unnessesary measures. iam struggling with time here only managed one day at the pod but hopefully things will calm down soon and i can concentrate on the car more.
As i said the car is in a shippng container so pictures will be difficult, yes i could roll it out but it was a pig to get it in and its covered in dust i will do what i can then once again i will have to ask for your help in getting the pictures on here. Thanks in advance for any advice you give me. Now ive got to go re felt the garden shed... its never ending i tell you!

With regarding the shims on the upper control arms, I would just swap them around without measuring the suspension geometry.
The system is designed to use the shims to adjust out any differences from side to side, as the frame/suspension arms/etc are never perfect, so these are what GM use to get it all 'square'. Most cars will have more shims on the left to the right, as these car's vary massively from the factory and over time, so everyone's is different.

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“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”