I worked up the nerve to take my 70 Chevelle out on the highway last week and got a real surprise. I was doing about 70 mph just lovin life when the car veered sharply to the right. I think I found an uneven section in the road. I haven’t experienced that before as I don't do much highway driving, mostly cursing around town. Prior to that I hadn't noticed anything wrong with the way the car handled. Any thoughts from the group on what might be going on before I take it to the front end guys?

Originally posted by Brad Howard:
mostly cursing around town. I'll bet you were after it took that right! :D
Seriously,What's on it for tires? Still the original bias ply? If so, they will make the car dart if you hit an ant. Is it back to "normal" now? You didn't break the lower control arm did you? Apart from that, the steering components could probably use to be replaced. My 71 only had 35k on it when I got it and the front end was shot.
Just some suggestions.
Jeff

Or, if you've got some wider meats up front, they tend to try nd follow the grooves in the road more than skinnier tires... Just gotta be mindful of your environment!

Bill C.

Align the car - 1/8 deg neg camber 2-3deg pos caster and 1/8" total toe in. sounds like the wheels are in a toe out condition. Or the car may have worn out suspension componets.

also remember that these are 40 year old cars and don't "handle" like modern cars even with all new original suspension parts. If you don't drive it often it could have just wandered on you. they have a tendency to "wander" a little on grooved or uneven pavement. Check out the suspension, get a rebuild kit and have it aligned, but don't expect corvette steering/handeling unless you upgrade the suspension to modern stuff. you want to drive a car that wonders around the road you should have drove my parent's 60s country squire 9 passenger wagon :eek:

IS this on one of the "new style" paved highways that look like someone took a large rake and went down the lanes the entire way? The highways designed to reduce road noise? If so, all three of my cars (Chevelle, 2K 300M and 96 Monte Carlo) all behave this way on these roads. Almost feels like a strong gust of wind hits the car for a moment. The Monte and Chrysler have new tires, fresh suspension and alignment, etc...its that the treads on the tires hit a wider portion of the "rake" grooves in the road and follow the track of those "rake" grooves for a second and then jump back out. These new highways are garbage. Pavement used to be smooth blacktop, now they use glass and old chipped up tire pieces and make these roads that look like someone ran a garden rake through mud...same pattern