I have a lot of play in my steering like 3-4 inches before tires turn. And car seems to want to drive itself. I even did a small slalom excersise and after a few cranks of wheel I'm steering one direction and car is going the other. I just drove the car for first time in Sunday and last year drove fine. I don't think it's an alignment as I havnt hit a pot hole. It can't be the tie rods, sway bar , ball joints etc as I changed them in 2005 and maybe put 25000km total on them. I figure it has to be the steering box.... It must I think .. Anyway I was thinking bout adjusting the steering box My question is
1. Is it essential to disconnect the pitman arm etc to do this?

2. Is it essential to make adjustments to both worm bearing and lash adjuster screw or can I just make adjustments to the lash adjuster as I'm sure the steering wheel is center.

3. How do you know when you adjusted too much?? Or when to stop adjusting ...I just need an idea what to look for so
I don't damage the gearing inside

4. How is it possible the car drove fine last summer and over the winter while the car was stored it develops such slack in steering?

Thanks again
Phil

 

Before you just start turning random screws, I think a little investigations might be prudent. You certainly should be able to detect where that much movement is, before you start adjusting things.

 

Phil,

The steering box is extremely unlikely to "go bad" while stored, the most likely culprit is the rag joint. Have a helper turn the steering wheel, engine off, while you look at the rag joint and steering box. I'm sure that you'll see a lot of movement on the steering shaft side of the joint before the steering box side starts to move.

If the rag joint is tight, then look at the Pitman arm movement as the steering wheel is turned and then the tie rods and steering arm/stub axle assembly. Be observant, you'll find it.

Regards from Down Under.

aussiejohn

 

Exactly. Check the rag joint. I'll bet that the rubber/fabric disk is just about shot. Rebuild it with a quality kit. Search for Jim Shea's article about the rag joint. It has been a topic off and on several times recently.

 

I KNOW I've got a tag joint issue on mine... And I've got roughly 1/2 inch to 1 inch of steering play there... And the car likes to wander slightly in the ruts of the road.. So far it's manageable. But, the other day I saw a vette with a aftermarket solid joint replacement... Looked kind of like a beefed up wobble socket..

Are there any 'drawbacks' to going this route vs a new PROPER rag joint? I've read here that the 'new ' replacements are not always made of the same materials and are inferior to the original design... It is the likely culprit in not only my situation, but also the OP's... Have others tried the non rag joint replacement? And what're your feelings towards both options?