How good should handling be?

[SRCM]

My 79 wants to wander all over the road and steers very hard. also, seems to be a lot of play in the steering when I turn the steering wheel when parked. Bought this car a few months ago, shouldn't it steer and handle like a 'sports car'? Car has new, correct tires, I put 2 lbs of extra air in them to see if the steering would ease, but no big improvement. If the entire steering and suspension needs replacement, are all the parts available? Can anyone estimate the cost of parts and labor, if I can find a competent shop?

[RRoller123]

Check the tie rods and ends of course, but also the 2 steering boxes may be misadjusted and out of lubricant. There are a few posts about all of this, searchable here on the forum. One box is driver's side and one passenger's side, next to the firewall. Here is a pic of passenger side: This is the steering idler and needs to be cleaned and filled with lube. I forget what it takes but I think it is 90w gear oil.



The driver's side has an adjustment screw that is held by a locknut. It can be set so that there is minimal play at steering center, but don't overtighten/adjust or it will bind at the extremeties left and right. Again, fill with lube. I don't have a pic of that one but it is obvious, just under the intake manifold against the firewall. Others may chime in here too.

Rear trailing arms may be shot too, and various suspension rubber bushings etc.. lots of places for this sort of malady to occur.

[azruss]

all the suspension parts are available from a variety of Fiat vendors. problem could be steering or idler box. could also be alignment, ball joints, steering ball joints. I would get under the car for a look-see before doing much more driving. the problem could be a danger.

[kmac33]

It should steer and handle like a "sports car" from 1979 . Don't expect anything even remotely approaching the handling of a late model sports car.
All of the parts associated with the suspension/steering are readily available from the typical vendors.
The obvious things to check:
Steering box fluid level.
Steering box adjustment (you can reduce the amount of play).
Steering idler fluid level.
All suspension bushings(upper and lower control arms and rear trailing arms).
Center link.
Tie rods.
Ball joints.
If you have made sure all of the above are in proper working order, the "stock" handling of the Spider can be improved via upgrading the bushings to polyurethane, bigger front anti-roll bar, adding a rear anti-roll bar, performance springs, performance shocks, upgraded tire/wheel package.