Loose steering
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,641
Likes: 392
From: cookeville, TN
Loose steering Been fighting a dead spot in my steering wheel since I was forced to swap columns when I botched a steering wheel swap. Been trouble shooting it for a few months thinking it was air in the system since inchanged pump and lines before i got it back onnthe road. Finally decided to grab the steering shaft in the engine bay and twist it with key on switched ignition. Noticed there is some slack there left and right. Don't feel like that's normal but don't have another car to check it against. This was with wheels on the ground and just twisting the shaft knuckles. All seems to move together all the way down to the linkage at the power steering rack, but it's all slop.
Thinking this might be my dead spot, any ideas on how to tighten the slop?
Thinking this might be my dead spot, any ideas on how to tighten the slop?
These cars have problems with the rag joint going bad. I suspect that is where your play came from if you replaced the entire shaft going to the rack. If you still have your old rack, replacing this part may get you back to the old feel. You can search for rag joint on this site and see many threads on the issue.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,641
Likes: 392
From: cookeville, TN
Thanks wssix99 I saw that come up last night when I searched but thiughtbthat was lt1 specific? I didn't see a rag joint in the location shown onnthe lt1 shaft? Or is the ragjoint what attaches directly to the rack?
Rack and linkage to column output shaft are all original have about 70k in mileage.
Rack and linkage to column output shaft are all original have about 70k in mileage.
I have been wondering about this as well. My car has a decent sized dead spot at the normal middle as well. Everything I have found pointed to that rag joint but that ls cars don't have it, so like you I am confused what could be causing it.
Indeed, you are correct. We have complaints about LS "rag joint" failure, but I think people are referring to the universal joints on the intermediate shaft. (The LT's had a proper rag joint on this intermediate shaft.)
I would have someone move the steering wheel while the car is parked and take a close look at the intermediate shaft and all the attachment points. If you feel slop in the wheel, I would expect that you would be able to see the ofending component along the intermediate shaft.
If not, it could be something more sinister like a bad steering wheel (we've seen that before) or other things, but I'd start with the intermediate shaft.
I've seen threads of members having problems finding new parts to replace the intermediate shaft, but I would expect (like all universal joints) it should be able to be rebuilt. (One would just need to research the proper parts and bearings.)
I would have someone move the steering wheel while the car is parked and take a close look at the intermediate shaft and all the attachment points. If you feel slop in the wheel, I would expect that you would be able to see the ofending component along the intermediate shaft.
If not, it could be something more sinister like a bad steering wheel (we've seen that before) or other things, but I'd start with the intermediate shaft.
I've seen threads of members having problems finding new parts to replace the intermediate shaft, but I would expect (like all universal joints) it should be able to be rebuilt. (One would just need to research the proper parts and bearings.)
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,641
Likes: 392
From: cookeville, TN
Did just that except did it from the engine bay side, since I was solo. Steering wheel tracked fine, but the circled section was spinning with the assembly. If i remember right there is a square nub under that plate, and the bolt squeezes on it. Maybe its loose? Although i couldnt move it with my fingers
