Steering Wheel Play
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Joined: Jun 2021
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Steering Wheel Play
Hi Folks. I own a 2008 997.1 TT Cab that has just 16,000 miles. I've owned it for about 2 years. One thing that has always bothered me is the amount of play in the steering wheel. It just seems a little less responsive. I also own a 997 Cayman and a 991 S and the steering on the cars seems more responsive. Any thoughts on if it's normal for a 997.1 TT to have some play or could something else be causing it?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 564
From: SF Bay Area
Can you fell any *actual* play where you can move the steering wheel in a dead zone without the wheels responding, or any noise when you do that? Or is it just an overall feel thing?
In the absence of gross symptoms I'd probably start by having the alignment checked. Also check both lower control arms for play in the bushings or ball joints: it's got low miles but a lot of years so I dunno.
There's also a pinch bolt right at the steering rack that clamps the steering shaft to the splined input of the rack. That can loosen and cause a little noise and play. If you remove the LF wheel you can access it: inspect it while someone works the steering wheel and look/feel for any play there. I had to snug mine up because it was loose, and I've heard of this happening to others.
In the absence of gross symptoms I'd probably start by having the alignment checked. Also check both lower control arms for play in the bushings or ball joints: it's got low miles but a lot of years so I dunno.
There's also a pinch bolt right at the steering rack that clamps the steering shaft to the splined input of the rack. That can loosen and cause a little noise and play. If you remove the LF wheel you can access it: inspect it while someone works the steering wheel and look/feel for any play there. I had to snug mine up because it was loose, and I've heard of this happening to others.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 101
Likes: 43
I have a 997.2 coupe and just chased this down. If you are lucky it's either an inner or outer tie rod that has a little play, which are the most common culprits. Worse case it's the rack.
I had 167,000 on mine and it was the rack. I went with a stock rack and the rennline oe+ inner and outer tie rods. It's now telepathic steering.
I had 167,000 on mine and it was the rack. I went with a stock rack and the rennline oe+ inner and outer tie rods. It's now telepathic steering.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 976
Likes: 230
From: Bellevue, WA; '26 MacanGTS, '18 Macan S, '10 997S, SPASM, 6spd
Can you fell any *actual* play where you can move the steering wheel in a dead zone without the wheels responding, or any noise when you do that? Or is it just an overall feel thing?
In the absence of gross symptoms I'd probably start by having the alignment checked. Also check both lower control arms for play in the bushings or ball joints: it's got low miles but a lot of years so I dunno.
There's also a pinch bolt right at the steering rack that clamps the steering shaft to the splined input of the rack. That can loosen and cause a little noise and play. If you remove the LF wheel you can access it: inspect it while someone works the steering wheel and look/feel for any play there. I had to snug mine up because it was loose, and I've heard of this happening to others.
In the absence of gross symptoms I'd probably start by having the alignment checked. Also check both lower control arms for play in the bushings or ball joints: it's got low miles but a lot of years so I dunno.
There's also a pinch bolt right at the steering rack that clamps the steering shaft to the splined input of the rack. That can loosen and cause a little noise and play. If you remove the LF wheel you can access it: inspect it while someone works the steering wheel and look/feel for any play there. I had to snug mine up because it was loose, and I've heard of this happening to others.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 564
From: SF Bay Area
Could be, I posted on that a while back. It was on my 987.2: I wasn't getting any play (that I noticed?) but I was getting a little "pop" noise when turning the wheel at low speeds. Retorquing that pinch bolt did the trick.
Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 573
Likes: 450
From: Malvern, PA West Philly Burbs
There should be no play. Check tie-rods first. There are other linkages in the steering. but the tie-rods go first. To fully diagnose, get it on a lift, have one person move the wheels as the other inspects movement in the steering system - Control arms, ball joints, track rods (coffins) etc...
