Free Play In Steering Wheel?
Free Play In Steering Wheel? So my car's steering seems to have about an inch (1/2 in left and 1/2 right) of free play in it. It doesn't matter if the car is on or off. When I'm driving on the highway, it seems to list to the left or right until I compensate and turn the wheel slightly the opposite direction.
I've checked both of the knuckle joints from the PS pump to the rack, and they are tight. I brought the car in to be aligned (thinking that was the issue) and they said everything looked tight and there was nothing wrong.
But I know the car, and how when the wheel used to be dead center, the car would track straight. Now, it's almost like a FWD car, where on-center is almost non-existent.
It's driving me crazy because it makes me look like a horrible driver having to constantly be moving left or right in a lane on the highway.
Any thoughts or help would be appreciated beyond words.
Thanks!
I've checked both of the knuckle joints from the PS pump to the rack, and they are tight. I brought the car in to be aligned (thinking that was the issue) and they said everything looked tight and there was nothing wrong.
But I know the car, and how when the wheel used to be dead center, the car would track straight. Now, it's almost like a FWD car, where on-center is almost non-existent.
It's driving me crazy because it makes me look like a horrible driver having to constantly be moving left or right in a lane on the highway.
Any thoughts or help would be appreciated beyond words.
Thanks!
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
From: Paso Robles, CA
I used to have a 95 Formula with the same issue. Alignment shop told me everything looked great. Got a second opinion from a master mechanic and told me that it can only be wear & tear in the steering rack itself, which was weird cause the car only had 80K miles at the time.
So if your steering rack has pretty high miles, it might be just starting to wear out.
Then again, a long time ago when I was researching the issue myself, I remember reading something about a faulty "rag" joint in the steering linkage that is prone to cause play in the steering.
Sorry, not much help I know, but thought I would chime in with what I know.
EDIT: Thought of another thing. There are 3 screws deep in the steering column that can work themselves a little loose over time and cause the play. I had my mechanic tighten them, but in my case it didn't help much.
So if your steering rack has pretty high miles, it might be just starting to wear out.
Then again, a long time ago when I was researching the issue myself, I remember reading something about a faulty "rag" joint in the steering linkage that is prone to cause play in the steering.
Sorry, not much help I know, but thought I would chime in with what I know.
EDIT: Thought of another thing. There are 3 screws deep in the steering column that can work themselves a little loose over time and cause the play. I had my mechanic tighten them, but in my case it didn't help much.
Last edited by Formula Freak; Sep 7, 2010 at 06:30 AM.
I used to have a 95 Formula with the same issue. Alignment shop told me everything looked great. Got a second opinion from a master mechanic and told me that it can only be wear & tear in the steering rack itself, which was weird cause the car only had 80K miles at the time.
So if your steering rack has pretty high miles, it might be just starting to wear out.
Then again, a long time ago when I was researching the issue myself, I remember reading something about a faulty "rag" joint in the steering linkage that is prone to cause play in the steering.
Sorry, not much help I know, but thought I would chime in with what I know.
EDIT: Thought of another thing. There are 3 screws deep in the steering column that can work themselves a little loose over time and cause the play. I had my mechanic tighten them, but in my case it didn't help much.
So if your steering rack has pretty high miles, it might be just starting to wear out.
Then again, a long time ago when I was researching the issue myself, I remember reading something about a faulty "rag" joint in the steering linkage that is prone to cause play in the steering.
Sorry, not much help I know, but thought I would chime in with what I know.
EDIT: Thought of another thing. There are 3 screws deep in the steering column that can work themselves a little loose over time and cause the play. I had my mechanic tighten them, but in my case it didn't help much.
Thing is the steering rack was replaced at about 90k. The car now has 140k on it.
See above for miles. Yeah I know the tires are huge, but I have learned the difference b/t tracking on a crowned road and this crap. It's not the tracking I mind, b/c before I would hold the wheel dead center and the car would stay dead center. Now I hold it dead center and it's almost like there ISN'T a dead center, there's only SLIGHTLY left or SLIGHTLY right ... Does that make sense?
Launching!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Mooresville,NC
I'm having the same issue with my 1995 Z28. It has 172,500 miles on it. I'm guessing it might be the steering rack. Mine has 3 year old tierod ends(not ripped and in good shape) and just got an alignment about 3 months ago. It will still seem like I have to hold the wheel a little to the left or right of center to make it go straight. The steering wheel will also move a little when the key is not in it, until it locks. Even when the key is in it the wheel will move about an 1/8 of a turn before it actually moves the wheels & tires. I have a 285/35/18 up front.
I'm having the same issue with my 1995 Z28. It has 172,500 miles on it. I'm guessing it might be the steering rack. Mine has 3 year old tierod ends(not ripped and in good shape) and just got an alignment about 3 months ago. It will still seem like I have to hold the wheel a little to the left or right of center to make it go straight. The steering wheel will also move a little when the key is not in it, until it locks. Even when the key is in it the wheel will move about an 1/8 of a turn before it actually moves the wheels & tires. I have a 285/35/18 up front.
my parent's 99 Laredo was like that, Jeep tracked straight, but you had to hold the wheel at 10 o'clock.
1/8 inch play is pretty respectable for 172k IMHO.
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140k, everything else stock?
...I hate to keep referring to my '87, but i bought it with 180k on the clock and since then I've replaced almost EVERYTHING with new/aftermarket. SFCs/LCAs, Tie Rods/Idler/Center Link, ragjoint, swaybars, shocks, springs, strut mounts, blah blah blah...
It really seems, in my experience that every piece tightened things up just a little bit more than the previous configuration.
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I have the same problem and it gets kinda sketchy at 120 plus... In mexico of course... But at that point its time to shut down because it gets so shaky, i have replaced my control arms and tie rod ends as well as ball joints and tightened the knuckle. Any ideas? or is it basically down to the rack?
Look at your steering linkage that connects from the firewall to the rack. In the middle there is a round rubber thing and i is known to break down from the heat from headers/ manifolds. Either get a new one at the parts store or replace it with this http://www.unbalancedengineering.com/Camaro/Rag_Joint/.
Who (re)made the rack?
140k, everything else stock?
...I hate to keep referring to my '87, but i bought it with 180k on the clock and since then I've replaced almost EVERYTHING with new/aftermarket. SFCs/LCAs, Tie Rods/Idler/Center Link, ragjoint, swaybars, shocks, springs, strut mounts, blah blah blah...
It really seems, in my experience that every piece tightened things up just a little bit more than the previous configuration.
140k, everything else stock?
...I hate to keep referring to my '87, but i bought it with 180k on the clock and since then I've replaced almost EVERYTHING with new/aftermarket. SFCs/LCAs, Tie Rods/Idler/Center Link, ragjoint, swaybars, shocks, springs, strut mounts, blah blah blah...
It really seems, in my experience that every piece tightened things up just a little bit more than the previous configuration.
I had to crawl under the car and torque the snot out of that bolt, but it fixed the problem...
Launching!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Mooresville,NC
I meant 1/8 of a complete revolution of the steering wheel not an 1/8inch.
Okay just so we're clear, no ragjoint on Ls1's? It could be the tires. They still have a lot of meat on them, but I guess it's possible. But would that cause the steering wheel to have free play in it?
