🚀 go-pugleaf

> My 1978 Nova (52,000 miles) "wanders" when I drive it, requiring
> constant, jerky steering wheel movement.  It feels as if the car is
> almost out of my control.
> 
> In the past, when I've taken the car in for regular servicing, I've 
> also described this problem, hoping each new mechanic would be able to
> correctly diagnose and then fix the problem.  Each time an alignment is 
> performed.  It helps only slightly and within a couple of weeks the car 
> is out of alignment again and the problem is as bad as ever.  By this 
> time, I think perhaps the poor alignment is a result of the problem, not 
> the problem itself.
> 				    K. E. Carlson

This may not be The Answer, but I'd like to suggest some possible things
to check:

1) Check your wheels to detect worn suspension parts.  Raise the front
of the car, and put jacks on both sides.  Grasp the wheel and test
for looseness by wiggling the sides back and forth.  If it is loose, it
can mean the outer bearings need repacking/replacing (always in pairs,
if possible)

2) The "shims" or spacers they use in alignment are falling out.  This is
particularly likely if the roads are bad.

3) Other worn or bent parts (had the car ever been in a front-end accident?
if so, this may not've been fixed)...idler arms, ball joints, etc.  Do you
have the car lubed every other oil change?  This is important especially
with older cars.  If you have a friend with a grease gun, it's easy (although
messy sometimes).  Or you can check if it's dry by finding the rubber
'bag' that holds the grease...if it's hard and doesn't squish, it's over
due for a lube.  If you drive through water (rain puddles) you should
also check it, water can wash away the grease.

4) I don't know about the old recirculating ball steering, but rack-and-pinion
racks can become loose when the bushings wear, and this can cause steering
problems (I know from experience...grrrrrr)

Hope this helps.
(p.s. most places warrant their alignments, and will not perform them if
there is any front end damage...are you sure this is a good shop?)

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