Steering is loose
#1
Racer
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Ok, so I know nothing about steering. At all. So that's why I ask you guys.
My steering wheel is loose. It's got about an inch of play, and it is bothering the heck out of me. I don't even know where to begin to diagnose the problem. I would love to have a nice tight steering in my car. What is first?
My steering wheel is loose. It's got about an inch of play, and it is bothering the heck out of me. I don't even know where to begin to diagnose the problem. I would love to have a nice tight steering in my car. What is first?
#4
Rainman
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Van, once upon a time I heard a fix people have down with the PS racks. Apparently in the gearbox somewhere there are 2 small springs that allow for a little bit of wheel play before any steering movement. To quicken things up people put small aluminum spacers in place of the springs...do you know anything about that?
#5
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Hey Spencer, I don't know about that... I once took a power rack apart (just to see what's inside) and the steering shaft gear meshes right with the rack teeth... So I can only imagine that the springs you're talking about are on the hydraulic valving - e.g. they get the pump to provide hydraulic pressure for the power steering faster.
To the OP, this car should have better steering feel than 99% of the other cars on the road.
To the OP, this car should have better steering feel than 99% of the other cars on the road.
#6
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When I had this issue it turned out to be bad steering rack bushings. Mine were completely toast. Check that first. Next I would look at tie rods. There is an inner joint that is covered by the rack boot. I was told my ends were bad but when uneasy replacing them I found out my inner joints were shot.
Hopefully its not your steering shaft.
Hopefully its not your steering shaft.
#7
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Van, once upon a time I heard a fix people have down with the PS racks. Apparently in the gearbox somewhere there are 2 small springs that allow for a little bit of wheel play before any steering movement. To quicken things up people put small aluminum spacers in place of the springs...do you know anything about that?
Just to be clear; unless that spring is somehow missing I doubt this has anything to do with the OP's problem.
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#8
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The plate on the front of the rack casing with two bolts (and the ground for the horn) holds a spring and a coped bushing which preload the rack against the pinion. I suppose you could put shims behind the spring to increase the preload if you ever felt so inclined...
Just to be clear; unless that spring is somehow missing I doubt this has anything to do with the OP's problem.
Just to be clear; unless that spring is somehow missing I doubt this has anything to do with the OP's problem.
#9
Nordschleife Master
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+1 never seen the preload sping on a ps rack only on a manual and it only preloads the pinion to stiffen or loosen the turning effort. imo nothing to do with the op's issue which is clearly wear in a steering component, hopefully only rack bushes as someone mentioned. 1in play at the wheel caused by the tie-rods or steering shaft would be worrying,
#10
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I had a similar issue and solved it by tightening the pinch bolt on the steering shaft splines where the shaft meets the steering rack. Apparently some hack mechanic (that'd be me) either didn't tighten it sufficiently when he replaced the rack or failed to use Loctite on it, likely both.
#11
Racer
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Ok. Sorry about not being specific enough. The steering wheel play is left to right. Here is a vid:
http://youtu.be/FmFPSvspVrg
So you guys are saying to check tie-rod ends; check control arm ball joints; check the rack mount bushings; check the steering shaft u-joints.
Man....nothings easy huh?
http://youtu.be/FmFPSvspVrg
So you guys are saying to check tie-rod ends; check control arm ball joints; check the rack mount bushings; check the steering shaft u-joints.
Man....nothings easy huh?
#13
Racer
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