Torsion bar issue?

[Sonny]

My '70 Belvedere's driver front wheel vibrates at 60mph and over. It is not, however, consistent. It will vibrate, then stop for a distance, then do it again. I can see the fender moving up and down and I can feel it in the steering wheel. Also, when I put the car in reverse, as soon as I backup there is a single "clunk" noise from that wheel (not the drive shaft). I jacked up the front driver side and twisted the tire side to side/up and down with no play. Bearing feels tight. I also used a 4 foot bar and raised the tire up and down (bar between the tire and driveway) and there is no play that I can see from the ball joints. Could these symptoms be caused by the torsion bar (I am new to those)? Strut bushing? Other?

 

[dryheat]

The clunk you describe when going in reverse is similar to what happened on my 66 Belvedere years ago. Turned out to be the upper control arm bushings were worn out.

 

[AMX364]

I was going to say upper control arm bushings also, start with the most likely and go from there.

 

[67 coronet]

to test for movement:
put a jack under the lower ball joint and lift until pressure is off the suspension.now try moving around your tire.also,look for visible cracks and pealing in bushings.all of em.

 

[dieseldazzle]

Check lower control arm pivot

 

[Fran Blacker]

One other thing to check the strut rod mount at the front of K member. Once had the plate come loose from K member, welds broke.

 

[69L48Z27]

I would take the car to a reputable alignment shop if your not comfortable digging in yourself. They'll tell you real fast what's worn out. They shouldn't align it with worn parts.

Also, alignment issues along will do some crazy stuff.

 

[AMX364]

From years of working, I found my best tool was a good strong work-light. Have made many sales that way.

 

[WileE]

One other thing to check the strut rod mount at the front of K member. Once had the plate come loose from K member, welds broke.

Agree, and also check to see it's bolted into the lower arm tight.

 

[Sonny]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I decided to replace all of them including tie rod ends. Should be a huge improvement based on what's coming off the car!

 

[ckessel]

The tube thats welded to the k, which the lower control arm shaft slips through, can get beat out/up over the years. May want to look at that too.