hard steering

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hard steering

Postby potshot23 » Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:20 am

10 tears ago I converted from the "Monza" pwr steering to a used manual Vega box on my 77 Monza. Worked well for 9 years, got hard to turn so I bought a brand new "Vega" saginaw box. It still turns real hard, had an alignment done and greased, still tight. What should I look for
Last edited by potshot23 on Mon Aug 09, 2021 8:15 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: hard steering

Postby gerbsinmd » Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:53 am

Check to make sure you don't have sagging motormounts. If the motormounts are sagging you could have the engine sitting on the steering linkage.
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Re: hard steering

Postby potshot23 » Fri Jul 23, 2021 6:22 pm

I have a motor plate on the front, and the linkage don't touch the pan.
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Re: hard steering

Postby Kenova » Fri Jul 23, 2021 11:33 pm

Here's a shot in the dark.
Have you changed your front wheel offset? A change in scrub radius could make it a little harder to turn the wheel.
Over the last twenty years it has become increasingly hard to turn the wheel in my Vega, but in my case I think it's just old age creeping in. The old shoulders aren't what they used to be. :lol:

Ken
My other car is a Nova.
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Re: hard steering

Postby potshot23 » Sat Jul 24, 2021 1:19 pm

Thanks Kenova, I've had the same rims on here for 10 years. What is "scrub radius", never heard of that..
Last edited by potshot23 on Mon Aug 09, 2021 8:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: hard steering

Postby chevyart » Sat Jul 24, 2021 9:03 pm

ny chance the idler arm is real tight. new ones are cheap on ebay(around $25)just a thought. Art
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Re: hard steering

Postby cjbiagi » Sun Jul 25, 2021 8:35 am

Did you try raising the front tires off the ground and see if it is still tight? Either it's in the box or linkage, you may have to start disconnecting the linkage and check the joints.
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