Really Bad Steering Problem, unlike any steering problem before it!

['Vette Nerd]

I was looking at one of my SEs last night(this thing's had steering trouble for months already) and I noticed that the front left tire would work okay for a little while and then it becomes sluggish and the SE drags it around, causing it to stop turning left and start swerving, only going straight or right. I can't figure out what would cause the tire to stop moving, but I really need some expert help and I really don't feel like buying another one! And believe me, I've tryed searching it and couldn't find anything close to this kind of issue!!! HELP, Please!!!

[frizzen]

Sounds like lint or hair wrapping around the axle shaft and acting like a brake.

[zzultimate]

Originally posted by frizzen
Sounds like lint or hair wrapping around the axle shaft and acting like a brake.

That's what i'd say. Take the wheel off and look between the wheel and the knuckle. There's probably something inbetween there and it's causing friction and not letting the wheel spin. Use a pair of tweezers and an exacto knife to get the hair out, that's what i use. Good luck!

['Vette Nerd]

Wow, 'zzultimate' and 'frizzen', thanks for your help. When I tryed loosening the lint AND cat hair from both front tires, I found a ton of crud, I still can't get over how much crud I found in it.(Still didn't get it all) The car still drags when I back up, but it already works WAY WAY WAY better and the steering doesn't jam at all when I go forwords. Just to be on the safe side, I'm not going to drive it on anything other than the cardboard track I built a weekend ago until the further notice. Thank you guys very much.

[Azimov]

Yah, just keep pickin at it with an x-acto and tweesers. You probably won't get everything out without removing the wheel from the knuckle, but thats a bit difficult with the disassembly of the front end and all.
I found the best solution is to do as you say and only run the cars on a smooth clean surface. If space dictates that to be your kitchen floor, sweep it thorougly first.
Now, I'm lazy, and I know I won't sweep everytime and I'm impatent to get racing. So, I built a track. Cardboard is fine if it's all ya got. The point is a clean surface that you can get to easily and have fun with. This will keep the cars running smooth without any headaches.
Oh, and go to Walmart's key cutting section near automotive and buy a small tube of graphite powder. Squirt a little on the wheel rotation points as well as the gears. You'll be amazed at how well it works.

[XSV]

I had this problem, with that exact same tire, but there was nothing in there whatsoever. I took it back (about 3 months later) and they couldn't help me so they just let me exchange it. Then they gave me a bunch of free batteries.

[hschnark]

[quote]Originally posted by Azimov
[b]Yah, just keep pickin at it with an x-acto and tweesers. You probably won't get everything out without removing the wheel from the knuckle, but thats a bit difficult with the disassembly of the front end and all.

Hey Azimov,

How about a short tutorial on removing and replacing the front wheels on an SE without wrecking anything. I may want to do that in the near future.

Thenks,
Hugo

[Azimov]

I'm pretty sure that was covered somewhere. I did a short look around but haven't found anything yet.

[XSV]

I ruined to ZZ originals taking apart eh front end.

[hschnark]

Originally posted by Azimov
I'm pretty sure that was covered somewhere. I did a short look around but haven't found anything yet.

Azimov,

I did a couple of searches and didn't find what I wanted. All I need is how to get the front wheels off of an SE and back on without destroying anything. Any sage advise?

Thanks,
Hugo

PS; I was down at the Shack and a Red Vette followed me home. Cute little bugger. Can I keep it? Please!

[Azimov]

Well, on older ZZs ans SEs, the pin ran through the wheel and seated in the knuckle. All you had to do was place the wheel with the knuckle attached so the pin was aligned to a small hole in something and you could peck the pin out with a small nail from the top or back of the knuckle.
In the 2nd gen chassis (I think) they changed the arrangement so the pin comes from the back now and seats in the wheel. The wheel has a plastic bump that covers the end of the pin so you can't peck it out as before.
The only way I can see to get it apart is to pry the wheel away from the knuckle with a small screwdriver until you can get enough of the pin backed out to grab it with pliers and pull it free. How you do this with no damage is truely the question, lol.

[hschnark]

Thanks Azimov,

That's what I was afraid to try. I think I will leave them attached until I find a junker to experiment on.

Hugo