How much slack is acceptable in the steering wheel? When parked, I can move my steering wheel about 2 inches either way before I feel the steering grab.

 

Check the steering flex connector just before the steering pump, for excessive wear. These cars were never as tight as a newer vehicle.

Two inches of play wouldn't be considered abnormal.

 

If its more than any other car in your possession, its too much.

 

if you have power steering,and im assuming you do, that 2 inches either way is acceptable if the engine is off....engine running, it should be much tighter....

 

Besides all the usual suspects for tracking down loose steering-ball joints, upper and lower control arms, rag joint, idler arm, power steering control valve and piston, pitman arm etc-I have done all of them and I still am not happy with the steering. One of the limitations of the C3 steering is the recirculating ball steering box-it will never be as tight as rack and pinion. For this reason, there are a host of vendors that offer the rack and pinion conversion systems and many have done them. The stock steering box is notoriously loose even when new due to the inherent design compromises in a recirculating ball system and the fact that the factory steering boxes were just slapped together from the factory with zero concern for play. Having spoken to many owners who have chosen to have their stock boxes rebuilt (not buying a rebuilt box-many of these are worse than your original), one can get close to the steering feel of a rack and pinion steering system. I am getting ready to pull my OEM box out to have it blueprinted during its rebuild-hand adjusted for play. A blueprinted OEM box will eliminate almost all the play and will be better than the steering ever was when the car was new. My goal is to retain the OEM steering system BUT to make it as good as it can be. Most of the C3's are candidates for a blueprinted rebuild, regardless of mileage or age, since the OEM steering boxes were never hand adjusted from the factory and as result have tons of play in their mechanicals. Hope that helps!

 

Anyone concerned about free play in their steeing wheel on a C3 should read Jim Shea's papers on the topic. They are informative and well-written and in plain english such that weekend yahoo mechanics like me can understand them easily.

 

yes i think you are right!

 

Unfortunately, a recirculating ball steering box will NEVER have the same play as a rack and pinion system since the systems are NOT compatible so saying that a C3 vettes's steering system should have the same play as "other cars you own" is really not very helpful!