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<x-rich>-------The Thread---- On 21 Dec 99, at 13:04, Andy Askren wrote: > Quick question: how does your car handle, say on the highway, on a gusty, > windy day? My 70 Squareback is a little scary under these conditions. The > steering seems nice and tight, no weird wiggles or shimmies that I can feel, > but once we get up to highway speeds and the wind kicks in (or a semi > passes), the car seems to dance all over the place. I had a '73 that didn't > feel at all like this. Anything I need to check? Anything I can add on? <underline> Per Lindgren</underline> provided a good 5-point list. If you don't need it now, keep it in mind to watch these mechanical components and use these operating suggestions. <underline>Andrew Davidson</underline> commented that overinflation works against control and that correcting it worked for him. <underline>Jim Adney replied</underline>: You might check that the front tires are inflated to 18-20 psi. Overinflation will make them skittish. You might also consider replacing the steering damper and the rubber bushing in the steering arm. <underline>My experience</underline> with ~450,000 miles of Type III driving, much of that over 60 MPH, is a little skewed by the fact of my lugging so much gear for my sales job. With about 200 #s extra in back (I kept as much as I could in the back seat and low) I had front sway until I put my tool box up there along with a few lighter things, maybe 75 #s in all. Then it steered pretty true but was a little squishy. Another 8 #s of air in the front tires did the trick. I always had radials and always ran them with pressure at the top of the recommended range, more a function of the load I was carrying, but partly from watching wear patterns and seeing what worked best to get even wear. Granted, wear patterns are easier to see when the car is doing over 300 miles per week than when it is around town. The absence of weight in the front of these vehicles is a big problem in maintaining balance. I learned that the trunk in front is for carrying things, and I darned well better carry things in there, especially with high speed driving on my calendar! Gene </x-rich>