Steering Went Herky Jerky!

[Rich C.]

While accelerating from about 30 mph, all of the suddon the steering went crazy! The steering wheel shook back and forth VERY violently! Let off the gas and steering went back to normal, it was low on P.S. fluid. But what's up with that? Shouldn't you just lose power assist? Has this happened to any on else?

'73 LS-4 454 owned 21 1/2 years
Built 19 October '72

They salted the roads already here in the Adirondacks

[Timothy B.]

Re: Steering Went Herky Jerky!

Rich,

Have someone move the wheel back and forth in the garage and get under the front to visually check the idler arm, tie rods, rag joint, steering box bolts for any play.

If you determine all is OK then it's got to be something wrong with the valve or pump. Don't forget to fill the system with fluid if it's low.

As a test you could try to drive the car with the belt removed and see if the problem occures again as this will narrow things some. The car will be hard to steer because of the tie rods being installed in the fast steer hole on the steering arm which is typical power steering assembly.

[Edward J.]

Re: Steering Went Herky Jerky!

Rick, I have seen the hydraulic control valve do funny things before, the low fluid level may have been the problem, but if the system is low on fluid I would suspect a leak in the system. if the system does it again when full I would be looking at the control valve maybe a internal seal leaking by causing this shimmy you experienced.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Steering Went Herky Jerky!

While accelerating from about 30 mph, all of the suddon the steering went crazy! The steering wheel shook back and forth VERY violently! Let off the gas and steering went back to normal, it was low on P.S. fluid. But what's up with that? Shouldn't you just lose power assist? Has this happened to any on else?

'73 LS-4 454 owned 21 1/2 years
Built 19 October '72

They salted the roads already here in the Adirondacks

i bet that air got into the system and since air is compressible and the fluid is not that is what caused the problem

[Peter H.]

Re: Steering Went Herky Jerky!

From My Experience I Would Look At The Tires.. Possible Belt Shift Or Broken Belt ...

[Paul J.]

Re: Steering Went Herky Jerky!

Rich, I agree with the others that it's probably something in the PS. As Tim said, check all of your front suspension and steering pieces for play. If something is that loose, you'll see it quickly. You can rule out the tires because a belt separation will still be felt at a low speed, and it does'nt go away.

Paul

[Rich C.]

Re: Steering Went Herky Jerky!

The idler does have some play in it, we'll see if that helps! It still has (had) the original non-greasable GM one. Glad that didn't happen on a turn! By the way tires ok and p.s. valve was relatively new, Thanks for the replies

'73 LS-4 454, owned 21 1/2 years