steering for the 1000th time
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,501
Likes: 1
From: Maine
steering for the 1000th time
Ok... I have, as usual, been reading old steering posts in my spare time for days...I can't seem to find the answer I need..... With the car off, wheels on the ground I can move my steering wheel about 5" each way...so 10" or more without the tires moving..... The rag joint seems tight and not worn.. I can also grab the rag joint and move it along with the steering wheel.. The lash screw it up about 1/2"... Time for a Steering box or is that play coming from the steering colulm ?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 45
From: nassau co. new york
i just completed a front end rebuild and there are many joints and bushings that can affect steering play.best is to have someone move the steering wheel while you examine each joint,one at a time.more than likely most of the play is from the steering box and a detailed procedure is required to perform this correctly.remember the final test must have the engine running to check the power steering control valve.it will show a great amount of play if the engine is not running.some of the trouble spots are:tie rod ends,idler arm,ball joints and the rag joint you say you checked.loose connection at the power steering control valve ball stud can also occur,(one of my issues).best of luck on your rebuild.http://home.comcast.net/~chadwick.ro...-Rev21FE04.pdf
Last edited by billcarson; Apr 9, 2012 at 07:01 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 86
From: Rotonda FL
Your steering wheel and your rag joint are at opposite ends of the steering column. If they both move in unison, the play would not seem to be in your column. Move on down to the steering box. Do the rag joint and the pitman arm move in unison? If not, you have found at least a portion of your problem (the drag link and tie rods/ends may also contribute) and you need to decide what you want to do about your steering box. Possible cures are 1) adjustment 2) rebuilding (either yourself or a professional) or 3) replacement (with either a rack & pinion or a jeep/bougeson unit).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 7
From: Chetwynd B.C.
I had the same problem you had along with some other issues. Got my steering box rebuilt by the best professional on the site. My change was like night and day. Incredible steering now.
shmoky
shmoky
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 62
From: Kona Hawaii
Borgeson Steering Box
Installed a Borgeson steering box a few years back.It eliminates all the components and hoses under the car.Steering feel is great and you use the same pump.Worth the price and no more dealing with leaky components....
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Have someone else turn the wheel while you look at the steering links and idler arm below. As you start to load that system, the links should move together as a set. They should not have any 'buckling' or erratic behavior. For that system to work well, all of the joints in those steering links need to be relatively tight and the steering box needs to have excess lash removed (as long as it doesn't get 'tight' spots at some other point in the steering movement).
If you see some links moving more than others, you need some new links/joints. The idler arm is a very common weak link in that system; it takes a lot of abuse from the steering system.
If you see some links moving more than others, you need some new links/joints. The idler arm is a very common weak link in that system; it takes a lot of abuse from the steering system.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,501
Likes: 1
From: Maine
most of the front is new parts... i guess i wanna know how much play in the wheel is average when the car is off... i tried it on my truck and another car and it was only about 3".... im sure im gonna end up replacing the steering box... but i will try to adjust it first...
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