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sloppy steering [message #360059] Tue, 10 November 2020 19:30 Go to next message
ktcnyc is currently offline  ktcnyc   United States
Messages: 25
Registered: September 2020
Karma: -1
Junior Member
Hello - I returned a few weeks ago from my very 1st trip in my 1977 Eleganza. Pretty nice time up to Maine and back to Pa via Rhode Island. The coach has had many owners and they all put a lot of care and new parts into it along the way. My main complaint is a loose steering road feel at highway speeds. A lot of 1970's steering corrections were required- not a very comfortable feel.
Is this just normal for a 1977 designed front end? Where might I look to firm things up?

Many Thanks for any suggestions.

KTC


Kevin Cloutier -'77 Eleganza II-455, 6 disk brakes, Edelbrock carb, headers, , resident of NYC and Dingmans Ferry, Pa. '72 MGB-GT & '73 MGB convertible Member GMCMI since 8/20
Re: [GMCnet] sloppy steering [message #360060 is a reply to message #360059] Tue, 10 November 2020 19:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bruce Hart is currently offline  Bruce Hart   United States
Messages: 1501
Registered: October 2011
Location: La Grange, Wyoming
Karma: 5
Senior Member
A couple of things to look for:
Is your steering gear box on center
Are the cinch clamps tight
And play in the steering cv joint or slip shaft.



On Tue, Nov 10, 2020 at 6:31 PM kcloutier--- via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:

> Hello - I returned a few weeks ago from my very 1st trip in my 1977
> Eleganza. Pretty nice time up to Maine and back to Pa via Rhode Island. The
> coach
> has had many owners and they all put a lot of care and new parts into it
> along the way. My main complaint is a loose steering road feel at highway
> speeds. A lot of 1970's steering corrections were required- not a very
> comfortable feel.
> Is this just normal for a 1977 designed front end? Where might I look to
> firm things up?
>
> Many Thanks for any suggestions.
>
> KTC
> --
> Kevin Cloutier -'77 Eleganza II-455, 6 disk brakes, Edelbrock carb,
> headers, , resident of NYC and Dingmans Ferry, Pa.
> '72 MGB-GT & '73 MGB convertible
> Member GMCMI since 8/20
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>


--
Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
Milliken, Co
GMC=Got More Class
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Bruce Hart 1976 Palm Beach 1977 28' Kingsley La Grange, Wyoming
Re: [GMCnet] sloppy steering [message #360061 is a reply to message #360060] Tue, 10 November 2020 19:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bruce Hart is currently offline  Bruce Hart   United States
Messages: 1501
Registered: October 2011
Location: La Grange, Wyoming
Karma: 5
Senior Member
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/steering-gear-box/p52883-set-steering-box-highpoint.html

On Tue, Nov 10, 2020 at 6:37 PM Bruce Hart wrote:

> A couple of things to look for:
> Is your steering gear box on center
> Are the cinch clamps tight
> And play in the steering cv joint or slip shaft.
>
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 10, 2020 at 6:31 PM kcloutier--- via Gmclist gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
>
>> Hello - I returned a few weeks ago from my very 1st trip in my 1977
>> Eleganza. Pretty nice time up to Maine and back to Pa via Rhode Island. The
>> coach
>> has had many owners and they all put a lot of care and new parts into it
>> along the way. My main complaint is a loose steering road feel at highway
>> speeds. A lot of 1970's steering corrections were required- not a very
>> comfortable feel.
>> Is this just normal for a 1977 designed front end? Where might I look to
>> firm things up?
>>
>> Many Thanks for any suggestions.
>>
>> KTC
>> --
>> Kevin Cloutier -'77 Eleganza II-455, 6 disk brakes, Edelbrock carb,
>> headers, , resident of NYC and Dingmans Ferry, Pa.
>> '72 MGB-GT & '73 MGB convertible
>> Member GMCMI since 8/20
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
>
>
> --
> Bruce Hart
> 1976 Palm Beach
> Milliken, Co
> GMC=Got More Class
>
>

--
Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
Milliken, Co
GMC=Got More Class
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Bruce Hart 1976 Palm Beach 1977 28' Kingsley La Grange, Wyoming
Re: [GMCnet] sloppy steering [message #360062 is a reply to message #360059] Tue, 10 November 2020 20:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mjbourgon is currently offline  mjbourgon   United States
Messages: 259
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -1
Senior Member
We had the same problem here in El Paso with our coaches. We replaced the steering box, no more problem
Marcel in El Paso

I Paso


Sent from my iPad

> On Nov 10, 2020, at 6:30 PM, kcloutier--- via Gmclist wrote:
>
> Hello - I returned a few weeks ago from my very 1st trip in my 1977 Eleganza. Pretty nice time up to Maine and back to Pa via Rhode Island. The coach
> has had many owners and they all put a lot of care and new parts into it along the way. My main complaint is a loose steering road feel at highway
> speeds. A lot of 1970's steering corrections were required- not a very comfortable feel.
> Is this just normal for a 1977 designed front end? Where might I look to firm things up?
>
> Many Thanks for any suggestions.
>
> KTC
> --
> Kevin Cloutier -'77 Eleganza II-455, 6 disk brakes, Edelbrock carb, headers, , resident of NYC and Dingmans Ferry, Pa.
> '72 MGB-GT & '73 MGB convertible
> Member GMCMI since 8/20
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org


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Re: [GMCnet] sloppy steering [message #360063 is a reply to message #360059] Tue, 10 November 2020 20:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Marsh Wilkes is currently offline  Marsh Wilkes   United States
Messages: 155
Registered: January 2004
Karma: -3
Senior Member
When everything is right it will drive like a car!
Getting there may be challenging, there are more variables than just about
any other vehicle.
I had a coach all new parts, aligned twice by Jim Bounds still did not drive
like I wanted. I had another one
worn loose front end, it drove much better with no attention.
You should get a lot of responses, this is an issue that has been given a
tremendous amount of attention over
the years on the Net.

Marsh Wilkes
Perry Fl



-----Original Message-----
From: kcloutier--- via Gmclist
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2020 8:30 PM
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Cc: kcloutier@nyc.rr.com
Subject: [GMCnet] sloppy steering

Hello - I returned a few weeks ago from my very 1st trip in my 1977
Eleganza. Pretty nice time up to Maine and back to Pa via Rhode Island. The
coach
has had many owners and they all put a lot of care and new parts into it
along the way. My main complaint is a loose steering road feel at highway
speeds. A lot of 1970's steering corrections were required- not a very
comfortable feel.
Is this just normal for a 1977 designed front end? Where might I look to
firm things up?

Many Thanks for any suggestions.

KTC
--
Kevin Cloutier -'77 Eleganza II-455, 6 disk brakes, Edelbrock carb, headers,
, resident of NYC and Dingmans Ferry, Pa.
'72 MGB-GT & '73 MGB convertible
Member GMCMI since 8/20

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Re: [GMCnet] sloppy steering [message #360064 is a reply to message #360061] Tue, 10 November 2020 20:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bruce Hart is currently offline  Bruce Hart   United States
Messages: 1501
Registered: October 2011
Location: La Grange, Wyoming
Karma: 5
Senior Member
Look over this entry into the forum.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/#search/alex+ferrara/FMfcgxmTpLZkfJvRZNjTCCHmHkMDLqCW

On Tue, Nov 10, 2020 at 6:58 PM Bruce Hart wrote:

>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/steering-gear-box/p52883-set-steering-box-highpoint.html
>
> On Tue, Nov 10, 2020 at 6:37 PM Bruce Hart wrote:
>
>> A couple of things to look for:
>> Is your steering gear box on center
>> Are the cinch clamps tight
>> And play in the steering cv joint or slip shaft.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Nov 10, 2020 at 6:31 PM kcloutier--- via Gmclist > gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Hello - I returned a few weeks ago from my very 1st trip in my 1977
>>> Eleganza. Pretty nice time up to Maine and back to Pa via Rhode Island. The
>>> coach
>>> has had many owners and they all put a lot of care and new parts into it
>>> along the way. My main complaint is a loose steering road feel at highway
>>> speeds. A lot of 1970's steering corrections were required- not a very
>>> comfortable feel.
>>> Is this just normal for a 1977 designed front end? Where might I look
>>> to firm things up?
>>>
>>> Many Thanks for any suggestions.
>>>
>>> KTC
>>> --
>>> Kevin Cloutier -'77 Eleganza II-455, 6 disk brakes, Edelbrock carb,
>>> headers, , resident of NYC and Dingmans Ferry, Pa.
>>> '72 MGB-GT & '73 MGB convertible
>>> Member GMCMI since 8/20
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> GMCnet mailing list
>>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Bruce Hart
>> 1976 Palm Beach
>> Milliken, Co
>> GMC=Got More Class
>>
>>
>
> --
> Bruce Hart
> 1976 Palm Beach
> Milliken, Co
> GMC=Got More Class
>
>

--
Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
Milliken, Co
GMC=Got More Class
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Bruce Hart 1976 Palm Beach 1977 28' Kingsley La Grange, Wyoming
Re: [GMCnet] sloppy steering [message #360065 is a reply to message #360062] Tue, 10 November 2020 22:39 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
All the suggestions are good ones -- I should know, having tried them all!
But the single thing I found to help most was installing "True-Tracks" on
the middle suspension arms. If you're not familiar with them they're cam
followers (very wide roller bearings) mounted to the ends of the
suspension arms which run in vertical guides bolted to the frame rails.
They prevent the suspension arms from flexing laterally, as they do
continually during driving. They also tend to compensate for excess play
in the suspension arm bushings, but don't let that keep you from
religiously greasing those. Don't worry about putting them on the real
arms -- those wheels follow along behind the rest.

Call Jim Kanomata.

JWID,

Ken H.


On Tue, Nov 10, 2020 at 9:13 PM Marcel Bourgon via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:

> We had the same problem here in El Paso with our coaches. We replaced the
> steering box, no more problem
> Marcel in El Paso
>
> I Paso
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>> On Nov 10, 2020, at 6:30 PM, kcloutier--- via Gmclist gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Hello - I returned a few weeks ago from my very 1st trip in my 1977
> Eleganza. Pretty nice time up to Maine and back to Pa via Rhode Island. The
> coach
>> has had many owners and they all put a lot of care and new parts into it
> along the way. My main complaint is a loose steering road feel at highway
>> speeds. A lot of 1970's steering corrections were required- not a very
> comfortable feel.
>> Is this just normal for a 1977 designed front end? Where might I look
> to firm things up?
>>
>> Many Thanks for any suggestions.
>>
>> KTC
>> --
>> Kevin Cloutier -'77 Eleganza II-455, 6 disk brakes, Edelbrock carb,
> headers, , resident of NYC and Dingmans Ferry, Pa.
>> '72 MGB-GT & '73 MGB convertible
>> Member GMCMI since 8/20
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] sloppy steering [message #360066 is a reply to message #360062] Tue, 10 November 2020 22:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jimk is currently offline  jimk   United States
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Bruce is correct to look at how important the gear box must be clocked at
12 O'clock.
The Majority of front end shops do not understand how important it is ..


On Tue, Nov 10, 2020 at 6:13 PM Marcel Bourgon via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:

> We had the same problem here in El Paso with our coaches. We replaced the
> steering box, no more problem
> Marcel in El Paso
>
> I Paso
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>> On Nov 10, 2020, at 6:30 PM, kcloutier--- via Gmclist gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Hello - I returned a few weeks ago from my very 1st trip in my 1977
> Eleganza. Pretty nice time up to Maine and back to Pa via Rhode Island. The
> coach
>> has had many owners and they all put a lot of care and new parts into it
> along the way. My main complaint is a loose steering road feel at highway
>> speeds. A lot of 1970's steering corrections were required- not a very
> comfortable feel.
>> Is this just normal for a 1977 designed front end? Where might I look
> to firm things up?
>>
>> Many Thanks for any suggestions.
>>
>> KTC
>> --
>> Kevin Cloutier -'77 Eleganza II-455, 6 disk brakes, Edelbrock carb,
> headers, , resident of NYC and Dingmans Ferry, Pa.
>> '72 MGB-GT & '73 MGB convertible
>> Member GMCMI since 8/20
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>


--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
Re: [GMCnet] sloppy steering [message #360068 is a reply to message #360064] Wed, 11 November 2020 10:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ktcnyc is currently offline  ktcnyc   United States
Messages: 25
Registered: September 2020
Karma: -1
Junior Member
Hello Bruce - Thank you for the suggestions. That link to google mail/alex ferrara does not cooperate. Is there another way to read it?

Kevin


Kevin Cloutier -'77 Eleganza II-455, 6 disk brakes, Edelbrock carb, headers, , resident of NYC and Dingmans Ferry, Pa. '72 MGB-GT & '73 MGB convertible Member GMCMI since 8/20
Re: [GMCnet] sloppy steering [message #360070 is a reply to message #360068] Wed, 11 November 2020 11:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jimk is currently offline  jimk   United States
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Kevin,
Call me and I will have Nick or dan send them Via email.


On Wed, Nov 11, 2020 at 8:18 AM kcloutier--- via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:

> Hello Bruce - Thank you for the suggestions. That link to google mail/alex
> ferrara does not cooperate. Is there another way to read it?
>
> Kevin
> --
> Kevin Cloutier -'77 Eleganza II-455, 6 disk brakes, Edelbrock carb,
> headers, , resident of NYC and Dingmans Ferry, Pa.
> '72 MGB-GT & '73 MGB convertible
> Member GMCMI since 8/20
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>


--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
Re: sloppy steering [message #360077 is a reply to message #360059] Thu, 12 November 2020 09:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
rgogan is currently offline  rgogan   United States
Messages: 82
Registered: February 2004
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Karma: 0
Member
I replaced my gearbox with a rebuilt one from a reputable supplier. The play in the steering was not improved. I took the old 150,000 mi gear box to the bench and followed the service manual adjustment procedure with an inch lb torque wrench and and had marked improvement in the play in the steering. This was after all play above the gear box in the steering shaft had been eliminated. Do the gearbox play adjustment before replacing the gear box.
Re: sloppy steering [message #360101 is a reply to message #360059] Thu, 12 November 2020 20:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ljdavick is currently offline  ljdavick   United States
Messages: 3548
Registered: March 2007
Location: Fremont, CA
Karma: -3
Senior Member
I chased that "steers like a car" feeling until my checkbook gave out - and then was squeezed for more! Despite Jim and Nick's best efforts, no luck. It rides better than it did, but that's likely the new shocks, it steers somewhat better but still wanders around far too much. I thought it might be because I'm spoiled by the fine handling of our Tesla, but it doesn't even track near to our old Toyota Sequoia. To compound the issue our town has narrowed the width of our streets for bicycle access to pucker size!

There are happy memories waiting to be made in these fun old coaches. Don't let it get you down like me - I'm still wallowing in a pit of disappointment over my own decisions to spend so much. It's safer than it was and no worse than before. A new project (re-doing the ceiling again) will make me love her all over again. Fitting a new Viair compressor was like our first date -- again!


Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, Ca
Howell EFI + EBL + Electronic Dizzy
Re: sloppy steering [message #360105 is a reply to message #360101] Fri, 13 November 2020 00:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
dsmithy is currently offline  dsmithy   
Messages: 210
Registered: July 2012
Location: Lincoln Nebraska
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Larry,
I don't know what your problem is. Better minds than mine will address that. But, I drive a '73 with no new front end parts and it goes down the road with two finger steering like my 2016 Camry. These GMC's were meant to drive and any problem can be corrected if identified correctly. Stay with it. You'll win.


Douglas & Virginia Smith, dsmithy18 at gmail, Lincoln Nebraska, ’73 “Sequoia” since ‘95: "Wanabizo"; Quadrabag/6 wheel disks/3:70 final/Paterson QuadraJet/Thorley’s/Alloy wheels/Sundry other
Re: sloppy steering [message #360130 is a reply to message #360059] Sun, 15 November 2020 16:57 Go to previous message
74_Coach is currently offline  74_Coach   United States
Messages: 71
Registered: July 2019
Location: Arroyo Grande, CA
Karma: 0
Member
Oh yeah, that problem Rolling Eyes - and I still need to get mine fixed as well. This document is by far the most comprehensive with images explaining the whole process: https://www.dropbox.com/s/v2hqkto48qekl5k/Steering-Gear-Highpoint.pdf?dl=0

Ed Clerkin | 1974 GMC Canyon Lands 26’
Central Coast CA
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