sloppy steering
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Texas
sloppy steering
my '69 has a tilt & tele steering column with a BBC 454 and the steering is VERY sloppy. Any suggestions on how to tighten it up some. Something like a rebuild kit for the column, there is about 3 inches of play in either direction before the front wheels start to move.
Any help will be greatly appreciated
Any help will be greatly appreciated
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Jasper, GA
WOW... 3" and you still drive it?
You need to research that ASAP! I would look at the steering column last. Check all the tie rod ends, ball sockets, connections, rag joint , and the steering box! You should have someone turn the wheel for you as you watch all the joints and moving parts if you do not have a lift to get it in the air. You really need to get that taken care of before disaster strikes! You may want to get it towed(rollback) to a garage and get that diagnosed. I can't imagine what 3" of play either way would do to the handling of your car. WHOA! ...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Texas
I just got the car and have only driven it once and with all that play and that much motor it gets hairy. The play feels like it is in the steering column cause once the wheels start turning it feels stable. The play seems to be just in the steering wheel but I will get it up and take a good look at everything.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Check your rag joint (simple). Adjust your steering box play (simple, too). There's a screw on top with a jam nut. Tighten a little bit at a time and test. You'll know if you've tightened the steering box play too much...'cuz it'll bind on you! 
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 3
From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
Before you mess with the little lash screw on top of the steering box, you need to adjust the end play on the input shaft by loosening the large jam nut and turning the large cap that the steering shaft passes through. Once that is adjusted (make sure it's not binding) then the smaller adjustment on top can be made (again, make sure it does not bind). Your post is rather vague however. Steering wheel play can be everything including tie rods, idler arm, rag joint, pitman arm, even loose bolts holding the idler arm or steering box to the frame. You really need to identify where the play is coming from before messing with the steering box.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Texas
O.K. got my old man to turn the wheel while I looked at everything that I could see. The joint where the column hooks to the small rod going to the steering box that I assume is the rag joint (two pieces of steel with what looks like a piece of conveyer belt between) the plate that is on the shaft coming from the steering column moved an awful lot before it would "catch" and move the bottom plate. In assuming this is the rag joint and also assuming that these symptoms are not "normal" does that sound like a rag joint went out and needs replacing. Also how many bolts are supposed to be holding this part on the car?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 478
Likes: 3
From: Huntsville AL
NO that is not normal, the rag joint is toast. Get a new one, easy to replace. I had my steering box off when I did mine so not sure how to replace it on the car. Someone will chime in with directions on replacement on the car. Hope this helps the driveability, it should.
YBnormal...drive a vette
YBnormal...drive a vette
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,175
Likes: 3,984
From: Connecticut, USA
Check the steering box shaft before buying a rag joint. '69's changed in mid year and there are two types of rag joints-early/late the early ones have a finer seration pattern and are round, the late ones are coarse and have a flat milled into them. They are not interchangable,do not buy the rebuild kits that vette catalogs sell-buy the GM joint. It's still available from any GM dealer for about $50-60. Check www.gmotors.com they sell them for the lowest price around.
Gary
Gary