I just had long tube hooker headers put into my 93 z28 and I'm having a couple of issues. When I picked it up today the mechanic told me that I needed a new transmission mount, which I definitely could tell when I was driving home, it was knocking real bad. So I changed the mount, and now its driving a little better. But now I hear a loud pinging sound under my feet when I drive in reverse. Another thing is that when ever I turned right it felt like something was sticking. So I looked under the hood and I could see the steering joint rubbing against the headers. I was wondering if this was bad or if I shouldn't worry about it.

 

The steering shaft hitting the headers is a problem. Same thing happend to me on my car after i put poly engine mounts in. Just take a hammer and punch or drift and peen over the thin steel bracket that goes around it. Clearance it then put the car in the air and turn the wheel back an forth and make any nessary modification to make it clear. Has no effect on the shaft. Thats modding cars. Sometimes **** just doesnt fit

 

Thanks, Ill give it a try.

I was just thinking. The o2 sensor on the passenger side was to short, so it is currently disconnected. Is there any chance that this is causing the knocking sound on the drivers side?

 

Disconnecting the O2 sensor keeps the ECM from entering closed loop. You need to hook it up so the ECM can control the A/F ratio correctly. It isn't going to cause anything to rattle or knock on the driver's side though.

Have you inspected the headers to make sure they aren't hitting the subframe or the floorboards on the driver's side?

 

I haven't checked that very thoroughly, but if that was the problem would it be a lot worse in reverse than it is in drive?

 

Yes, it could be. The engine moves around (twists on the motor mounts), in response to the torque on the drive shaft. When the tranny is in reverse, the engine torques in the opposite direction than it moves when you are moving forward. May indicate weak motor mounts.

 

I didn't realize that. Ill check that out tomorrow. Thanks

 

You were right. I had the problem fixed today.

 

Thanks for the feedback.