When I'm cruising down the highway at 60mph in one of my regular cars...i.e my Silverado or Sebring, it feels just fine. Now, when I'm driving my Chevelle at 60mph, it feels as if I'm doing 120, the car feels jerky, steering wheel feels like it has alot of play, and it's quite frightening..:eek:

That's why I like 50mph in the Chevelle. lol. Does this happen because:

A. The car's 30+ years old, get over it.
B. My new suspension is causing it.
C. My power steering isn't hooked up.
D. None of the above.
E. All of the above.

It's not set up to be a race car...it's a '72 that's basically all stock. (right now, anyway) Thanks!!

The car is 33 years old and alot of suspension parts and steering parts are worn and need to be replaced and upgraded.

Worn parts. I won't tell you what speed I hit on the freeway today in my Chevelle but it did not fell unstable at anytime.

This morning, 6:30 AM, on the Expressway, not a car in site, I WOT the Chevelle, stable as could be.

Fred.

It used to... Until I replaced the bushings, joints, springs, shocks, and wheels and tires. Now its stable all the way up till the speedometer starts flopping wildly. The only thing that makes me nervous at that speed is watching the hood flap up and down :eek:

I just replaced the front suspension, and today I took it and had the alignment done. The only other thing that I can think of, is maybe because the front tires are 185/70/14 and the rear are 275/60/15? I'm getting ready to put the new front wheels and tires on, I just wanted to get the suspension done. The front size will be 215/60/15, or maybe 215/50/15? (Something smaller than the rear)

Radial's on the rear and Bias tires on the front will cause strange sensations. Get your front tires on and then see what happens.

I 've had mine up to 100 mph (in the 1/4) since the rebuild , felt real good. In fact that is the only time I've had it over 65.

Not mine. I have done 90 when no one was around, let go of the steeering wheel and it went strait as an arrow.

Mine handles better then my everyday driver since the suspension rebuild.. It corners like it's on railes.. :thumbsup: :beers:

I just replaced the front suspension, and today I took it and had the alignment done. The only other thing that I can think of, is maybe because the front tires are 185/70/14 and the rear are 275/60/15? I'm getting ready to put the new front wheels and tires on, I just wanted to get the suspension done. The front size will be 215/60/15, or maybe 215/50/15? (Something smaller than the rear)
What consists of the "Front Suspension" ?

120 in the 1/4 mile, handles great :D I'm running 165/75/15's on front and 30x9x15 slicks on the back, so it aint big n little making it squirrely. Did you replace ball joints? center link? tie rod ends? A frame bushings? does it have a front swaybar?

My last 69 had the front end rebuilt and still felt wishy washy like that on at high speeds- I bought a new steering box- problem went away completely- drove and felt like a brand new car.

120 in the 1/4 mile, handles great :D I'm running 165/75/15's on front and 30x9x15 slicks on the back, so it aint big n little making it squirrely. Did you replace ball joints? center link? tie rod ends? A frame bushings? does it have a front swaybar?
I'm with Bob. Most of these front end kits don't include the center or drag link. When I changed mine, things were much better.

Did you replace ball joints? center link? tie rod ends? A frame bushings? does it have a front swaybar?

All that was changed out, and it does have a front sway bar. No rear bar yet, but soon. There was a suggestion earlier to replace the steering box....That'll have to be the next thing. I want the power steering in operation anyway.

am I missing something or did the others who posted? You stated the PS wasn't hooked up yet. as in you have a PS box and the pump is missing the belt? Or do you have a manual box and your going to install a PS box? if your running a PS box and its not hooked up the car will go all over the place, not to mention wear and tear on the rag joint and bearing in the column, I ran my camaro like this for awhile, and yes it was a white knuckle ride at times, in traffic Jim

if your running a PS box and its not hooked up the car will go all over the place, not to mention wear and tear on the rag joint and bearing in the column, I ran my camaro like this for awhile, and yes it was a white knuckle ride at times, in traffic Jim

Yep, Jim. That's wut I got...:o :rolleyes: LOL

White knuckle ride!!! You're not kidding. I'm glad that it's doing what it's "supposed" to do, given the condition it's in.. I guess I should fix that real quick-like..:clonk: :D

Other guys mentioned the sway bar, my kids 70 is pretty squirrely when he takes the front sway bar off to drag race it at the track, take a good look at your front clamps and check the bushings out real good on the sway bar. good luck


Rob.

Doesn't having different size tires (ex., wider rear tires) make the car handle strange?

I've been goin' pretty fast (over 100) in my '70 and it feels great, in fact, I've been doin' 110 with no hands on the wheel. I would recomend replacing all the front suspension (i.e. tie rods, shocks, idler arm, etc.). That should help.

My Chevelle was similar to that before I had the suspension rebuilt, I would be on the highway and keeping up with traffic (around 65mph) and the front end would vibrate and I could feel it in the steering wheel, my driverside mirror would shake so bad I thought it would breake off. I had the suspension rebuilt using a PST Polygraphite kit and new shocks, I also added the big n' little tires 215/70/15 front and 275/60/15 rear and now it rides and handles great, it's a little firmer than I would like but I can live with it. I took my Chevelle out for a spin yesterday to get a feel for how it handles at high speed (to respond to this post) and I got up 85-90mph and took my hands off the wheel and it stayed straight, no vibration or shudder or drifting. I don't think having different size front and rear tires are the problem but your current front tires are way smaller than I would feel comfortable with, when I bought my current tires the shop said to try and get them to be as close as you can get to the same height front and back that it will help with ride and handling, I think theres a one inch difference in my tires height. I would reccomend replacing the centerlink (unless it was already done), getting new bigger front tires and definitely get the power steering addressed.

Poor Marci, fix that problem and GET-ER-DONE....:p Yep, Jim. That's wut I got...:o :rolleyes: LOL

White knuckle ride!!! You're not kidding. I'm glad that it's doing what it's "supposed" to do, given the condition it's in.. I guess I should fix that real quick-like..:clonk: :D

I know this is a older thread, but I had to comment, as no one else seemed to notice this, but Marci's pic of his car makes it appear as though he's running air shocks in the rear pumped up rather high? (Or it could just be the angle of the picture...in which case, you can disregard this) Never a good handling choice in terms of stability. Too much weight on those front tires...Just a thought!
-gambi69