My car is all over the road!!!

I've got a 56 special that is on air bags. I was going on the freeway this weekend and any variation in the road made my car go all over the place, at 70 miles an hour it can be a little nervracking to keep the car under control. I thought that my alignment needed to be adjusted so I called some local tire shops and when I said that the car had airbags they said that the alignment couldn't be adjusted, rather it could be adjusted but anytime I change the heightth of the car wih the airbags it would mess the alignment up. I also have the wide white bias-ply tires, does that have anything to do with it. I would also like to know if I can install shocks on my car in addition to the airbags, the bags take the place of the springs but I should be able to reinstall new shocks,right. If anybody has any input on this, I would appreciate there feedback.
Mike

 

Need more info on what you did to the car.

 

Then I would say get them to do an alignment at the setting you have it at most

 

u NEED the shocks to keep the car from bouncing and rolling. u may also have to install a front stabilizer bar kit also. these old cars especially on biased play tires were all over the road anyhow, at higher speed. and soft springs were the common for that luxury ride.
if u adjust the height this change the camber & the toe.

 

My 68 Electra wonders alot and I think its the bias ply tires and the worn shocks. I took the front sway bar off my 64 skylark when I replaced it with a larger one. I drove it for 2 weeks without a front sway bar and I was amazed how much wobble there was while using the highway ramp. I also tried the rear end with out shocks to test the rear springs and any bump sent the rear end bouncing away.

You need shocks and radial tires and then get it aligned. I would have it aligned at the height you will have the car most of the time.

 

With airbags you need good quality shocks and sway bars front and rear to keep it sturdy at highway speeds. At least my friend did when he installed them in his truck.

-Eric

 

Is there any play in your bushings?
My upper right side has play and it will drift at high speed

 

air bags

get rid of the air bags and use the suspension Buick intended the car to use. Make sure the original suspension is up to snuff and your car will ride and handle like a Buick should. If the suspension is tight and in good repair adn you are running on a good grade of tires you should have no problem. I drove many thousand miles in my 53 and 57 with the utmost of ease.

 

Uh, I think the car's a custom. Buicks intended suspension doesn't exactly fit that job

 

ah

ah, didn;t know that - checked back over his posts - a nice looking cutom at that!!! love the suicide doors!!