I expect your alignment shop knows what they're doing but are they for sure each and every time doing an alignment with heads mounted on the fronts AND rears to take into account the rear concern you have while setting the front specs?.

Also when you say all front parts were replaced, were control arm bushings for sure replaced too?.

Lastly, and more directed towards your slow return to center steering issue than the wandering left thing, sounds dumb maybe but sticky ball joints can sometimes cause this problem and are hard to isolate..
To check them you'd need to knock off your outer t'rod ends and make sure both sides are moving freely to the full extension in both directions..

Good luck!.








-- Edited by Ghost Post at 12:15, 2008-10-02

The front settings are supposed to be adjusted last to take into account whatever the rears may be at..
Are the tires new or any miles on them?. Sometimes it takes some mileage on used rubber to get everything in sync and worn into where the specs are set after alignment..
Put some miles on it and watch for uneven wear or cupping than rotate and align again addressing more what counteracts the problem and/or whatever wear you may see on the tires..

Cool car!.









-- Edited by Ghost Post at 15:02, 2008-10-02

As I write this, I am setting here, waiting for a call from alignment shop!!! I added p.s. to my car, and added new strut rod bushings.. I have 15x7 wheels on it now, with P235/70r-15 tires.  With standard steering, the car was great on the road, up to, and over 100mph.  After I installed p.s. it was a delight to drive around town, but was a bit "loose feeling" on the highway.. I took it down, to check out 74,000 original mile front end, and it needed a centre link and inner tie rod end..  I took it back today, and told John to set it, so it "plants the front tires", to the point of tire wear start.  John is the type of front man, who can  do a "custom setting"  He has been working in the Clinton shop,since I hired him in 1985...  Experience is a great teacher...

Some body shops have laser frame racks. They may be able (for a fee) to tell you if the frame is out of spec.

Carl Stevenson wrote:

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Upper control arm bushings?

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both sides replaced, bolts and all.

I got the Ratochief back, this morning.. The steering wheel is straight, and it steers wonderfull. The centre link was really shot, and the camber or caster, was way off, as I had changed the strut rod bushings. The car pulled left, when you applied brakes as left side rod bushings were gone.  John spent a lot of time fussing with it...  Car is worth a lot, more money now!  lol

I did rotate tire positions front to rear with same results... I will try L to R on the front next.

1965CS wrote:

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I did rotate tire positions front to rear with same results... I will try L to R on the front next.

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       Do try the side to side.  "pulling tire"(consisity pull) can make the car pull left or right.. My car has original upper and lower control arm bushings,and they are ok, but, the strut rod bushings were totally wore out..  Did you check yours?  If you jack up the car, place the safety stands. and look at them. you can see, if they are moving..  A pulling tire(s) normally, doesn't make a car "wander" Carl1 was correct asking about suspension. My Jimmy wandered, and it had ball joints out.. Carl 1,2,3 are watching.. let us know..


-- Edited by 427carl at 18:10, 2008-10-03

So, now I have tried switching L and R front wheels with the same result... it still favors the left.  I have tried altering the spacers for the camber on both sides... increasing one side -decrease the other, and visa versa.  The result, same thing!  There is no drag on either wheel and rotors, calipers seem fine and all the bushings seem to be OK with no play anywhere. 
While cruising and I tug the wheel gently to the right, the car goes right slightly and slowly back to center and eventually slightly left.  If I tug the wheel gently to the left, the car goes left and continues... does not "spring" back to center.  Since this problem started after replacing all the steering parts, it has taken me back to the steering box and now thinking it may not be on center.   I don't know if this is possible tho, since the center mark on the shaft was correct and half way, when attaching the column.   The dilemma continues. 

69Laurentian wrote:

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Could there be a problem in the steering box?

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Well, as I think back 2 yrs, like I can remember much anymore, this all started after it was replaced.... wish I still had the original to try.   I just don't know if it is possible that the box was built off center.

1965CS wrote:

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Well, as I think back 2 yrs, like I can remember much anymore, this all started after it was replaced.... wish I still had the original to try.   I just don't know if it is possible that the box was built off center.

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I would say if your problems started after replacing your box....then I would say that's the problem or it's that black cat

hmmm, maybe it is the cat!  Don't let that friendly look on his face fool you. 

Thinking the box was too tight, I did back off the set screw about 1/2 turn.  That only created free play in the column so I set it back.  Also, when I first got the car, I installed a tilt column from a 65 GP.  The bearings in it are worn and now thinking this could also be the source....may be "hanging up" somewhere.


-- Edited by 1965CS at 19:22, 2008-10-04