My Car is a 1971 Chevelle..350 autmatic trans..I have completly rebuilt the front end..replaced everything..bushings balljoints,tierod ends,drag link..everything..used premium parts..the car as you drive it feels like the steering is wobbly..everytime it hits a bump in the road it feels like you have lost control of the steering..As a last resort i replaced the steering box..still same problem..Front end was lined up after reubuild..I guess I need to realine after the PS box replacemnt..the only thought I have is th car has Bias Ply tires ??Could this be the problem..Anyone please help..I have no other ideas to this problem..Thank you in advance..

Shannon, Bias ply tires are pretty bad for the most part. I think we're so use to the new cars, and the radials, that we forget how bad the old tires were. I have the bias ply tires on both my 68 and 71. The 71 I do drive, and it too is completely rebuilt ,and it rides nothing like when I had the radials on it. The radials are far better riding tires than bias ply, but don't look half as good in my opinion...

Is this a new problem or was it there prior to the rebuild? To rule out the tires as a cause of the problem try swapping a good set, say from another car on to your car.

Originally posted by 71350ss:
Is this a new problem or was it there prior to the rebuild? To rule out the tires as a cause of the problem try swapping a good set, say from another car on to your car. When I bought the car it was all original..including the front end.Didn't drive it much before I did the rebuild..I still have the original rims with radials on them..So I will them and see..Can the polyglass tires such as I have make a car erratic on the road?Thanks.

You DID replace the idler arm, correct? Usually a worn centerlink or idler arm will cause the problem you describe. I would jack the front end up by the center support, rock each front wheel while looking at the various linkage pieces for any movement or "play". Should be very little "play" in the steering linkage.

Originally posted by Shannon Custalow:
..everytime it hits a bump in the road it feels like you have lost control of the steering.. Probably not your problem but how are the shocks?
If you can have a friend drive alongside and observe your wheels as you drive it may help to solve this.
Retrace your steps,if the problem wasn,t there before but is now you need to doublecheck everything.

Originally posted by MalibuJerry350:
You DID replace the idler arm, correct? Usually a worn centerlink or idler arm will cause the problem you describe. I would jack the front end up by the center support, rock each front wheel while looking at the various linkage pieces for any movement or "play". Should be very little "play" in the steering linkage. Yes I replaced every part for the front end..including the drag link..I still will try the tire switch ..but I can't imagine tires making this problem happen..Anyone have other ideas?..

I do not believe that the bias tires are the problem. You need to recheck everything. I assume when you say bushings you mean control arm bushings. Check to make sure you new items are seated, ball joints, tie rods and so on. Are the wheel bearings tight. A good alignment shop should have checked everything. It sounds like the toe could be off. Could you take it to another alignment shop? There are other things but I do not believe they are your problem. Frame cracked where steering box bolts, upper control arm mounts cracked at frame.When you are on a nice straight road does it dart? How does it drive when no bumps are involved? Keep us posted.

Alignment specs are different between radials and bias ply tires. May be that the car is set up for radials.

I had the front end lined up when I replaced the front end components..It was off very little..when I bolted everything up on the front end..I tried to tork them to the specs the book said..Maybe the front wheel bearings i didnt get tight enough?..It is hard for me to beleive that the tires can cause the car to be so erratic when it hits bumps..the frame has no cracks..I have not had it realigned since I have replaced the power steering box..this has drove me to almost the point of selling the car..Thanks to all who has helped..is there anything else that maybe I have over looked..?


Originally posted by Redmanf1:
I do not believe that the bias tires are the problem. You need to recheck everything. I assume when you say bushings you mean control arm bushings. Check to make sure you new items are seated, ball joints, tie rods and so on. Are the wheel bearings tight. A good alignment shop should have checked everything. It sounds like the toe could be off. Could you take it to another alignment shop? There are other things but I do not believe they are your problem. Frame cracked where steering box bolts, upper control arm mounts cracked at frame.When you are on a nice straight road does it dart? How does it drive when no bumps are involved? Keep us posted.

Any other ideas?

Originally posted by Shannon Custalow:
My Car is a 1971 Chevelle..350 autmatic trans..I have completly rebuilt the front end..replaced everything..bushings balljoints,tierod ends,drag link..everything..used premium parts..the car as you drive it feels like the steering is wobbly..everytime it hits a bump in the road it feels like you have lost control of the steering..As a last resort i replaced the steering box..still same problem..Front end was lined up after reubuild..I guess I need to realine after the PS box replacemnt..the only thought I have is th car has Bias Ply tires ??Could this be the problem..Anyone please help..I have no other ideas to this problem..Thank you in advance..

Sounds like something may not be bolted up right - However, tires can definitely cause big problems like you describe. Did you get a chance to swap tires yet?

Did you do any mods or changes to the stock setup that could be binding or causing interference somewhere?

And you don't want your wheel bearings tight - read the manual on the proper method for those.

Could the inner and outer tierod ends be installed in the wrong spot? I cant remember if the studs were different size/taper.

Well today I swapped out the tires for the original ones which was on the car radials..and behold..the problem went away..I would never figure in a million years that the Polyglass tires were the problem..I guess they could be bad..when I took them off they look very cracked and ragged on the inside..I bought them used from a guy..could have been bad and he didnt know it..Anyway..Thanks to all who offered suggestions..and this site truly is a gift to us all..


Originally posted by Xtreme70SS396:
Sounds like something may not be bolted up right - However, tires can definitely cause big problems like you describe. Did you get a chance to swap tires yet?

Did you do any mods or changes to the stock setup that could be binding or causing interference somewhere?

And you don't want your wheel bearings tight - read the manual on the proper method for those.

There is a world of difference between "antique" original polys and the reproduction ones made today. I bought a 28,000 mile Cyclone, with original bias tires, from an estate. The 30+ year old tires looked good (they were hard as a rock though) but would follow every shallow spot, groove or seam in the road. A set of repop bias plys made a world of difference. Old tires are only good for show, if that.