What a major bummer...

i think this is just worn out suspenison, lower ball joints would help...all that rubber is just worn out , i dont think you have any serious problems , after 35 years stuff just wears out.

 

Here is a decent thread with lots of detailed information on the shock tower (from when I did mine). Also, check out my website for more details.

http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=18193&highlight=shock+tower+cut

My web site at the page where I started the cuts...http://home.cmaaccess.com/~scodon/september2005.htm

 

Like Eddie said that just looks like a wore out suspension. Even if you had it lined up recently, if everything is wore out it will not stay aligned! Get all that replaced and redo you alignement and see if that fixes the problem.

 

I've got it!!

The lower ball joints aren't loose, though. They're very tight, actually. I'm gonna try fixing the shock towers first. I'll do it as if I was putting a larger motor in (which I'm not). A good weekend project, lift the motor out, climb inside, straighten things up, cut some more of the shock tower out, and rebuild with new steel, which I have plenty of. If this doesn't fix it, I'll try fixing the ball joints, if it's a problem. I'll let y'all know how it turns out!! Thanks for all your help, guys! I really do appreciate it. Wish me luck!

Andrew

 

Its not just the ball joints. The upper and lower arms have bushings as well. If those wear out (which from the looks of the pics they probably are) you will have alignment issues as well. Same thing with your tie rods and drag links. If any of those things are wore out it will effect your steering significantly!

 

wheel bearings, stuck brakes, suspension wear... I don't think that the towers are causing your problems, but it may. Get in there and weld it up good. Bad tires can also add to steering problems

 

you said you are good at welding.. take a cut off wheel, cut out the areas that look like crap... get some steel, weld it in nice.. grind down the welds and paint it black..

if anyone asks, just say it is a common modification to allow the owner to have easier access to the spark plugs.. anyone that has a maverick will welcome the mod, as long as it is strucuturally sound

 

You say you have two mavericks... I would get out a tape measure and compare the two cars. If the tape says all the critical mounting points are in the correct spot, then fix the metal-work and replace the wornout components. If the mounting points are way off then there was some frontend frame damage in its past, then either fix the frame or part the car out.

 

You know, that may explain why if I turn the wheel (before it went bad) to the left, it would want to pull right after I straightened the wheel. If I turn right, it fixes it and doesn't pull anymore. I'll check out the suspension stuff. After I straighten the shock towers up. Thanks guys!!