Diagnosis on steering play?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
From: Ol Dirty Durham NC
Diagnosis on steering play?
My 86 has a bit of steering play, the wheel can be turned from side to side about 2 inches and the wheels don't move. I orignally thought it was the tie rods. Upon further inspection I noticed that the steering play is coming from the steering box and not the tie rods.
If I jiggle the wheel I can see it move a little at the UJoint right at the top of the steering box. Is there any way to adjust it to where it won't move? The only thing I have done to the PS system is change the fluid, would that cause the problem??
I am planning to drop in a big hp motor and I don't want to kill myself going fast b/c the wheel has play in it.
If I jiggle the wheel I can see it move a little at the UJoint right at the top of the steering box. Is there any way to adjust it to where it won't move? The only thing I have done to the PS system is change the fluid, would that cause the problem??
I am planning to drop in a big hp motor and I don't want to kill myself going fast b/c the wheel has play in it.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by C4CBF
My 86 has a bit of steering play, the wheel can be turned from side to side about 2 inches and the wheels don't move. I orignally thought it was the tie rods. Upon further inspection I noticed that the steering play is coming from the steering box and not the tie rods.
If I jiggle the wheel I can see it move a little at the UJoint right at the top of the steering box. Is there any way to adjust it to where it won't move? The only thing I have done to the PS system is change the fluid, would that cause the problem??
I am planning to drop in a big hp motor and I don't want to kill myself going fast b/c the wheel has play in it.
If I jiggle the wheel I can see it move a little at the UJoint right at the top of the steering box. Is there any way to adjust it to where it won't move? The only thing I have done to the PS system is change the fluid, would that cause the problem??
I am planning to drop in a big hp motor and I don't want to kill myself going fast b/c the wheel has play in it.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
From: Ol Dirty Durham NC
Originally Posted by Corvette Kid
If there's play in a shaft joint, it'll have to be replaced, ditto for the rack. There is no steering box per se on these cars so I'm sure you meant the rack. Changing the fluid would not have caused any of these problems, they are mechanical issues and can be considered wear and tear on an older car.
Thx Chris, good to talk to you. I've been real busy and haven't had a chance to be on the forum much. I need to send you some pics. Got the new motor all blueprinted out, just need $ put it together
So could it just be a bad ujoint and hopefully not the rack? How would I tell the difference?
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta GA
i had my 91 in the shop last week for an alt replacement and got them to do a once-over while they had it, i had about 1 or 2 inches of play in my steering as well. they called me and told me they were going to tighten some lose bolts on the steering column (i dont know any specifics on what all they did, ive been out of town, i just told them to "fix everything"). anyways, when i got it back that little bit of play had been corrected.
CJ
CJ
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 506
Likes: 12
From: Savannah GA
An easy place to get rid of some play is in the telescoping adjuster. If the wheel been off they may have not got it preloaded enough.
Otherwise it's in the shaft or the rack.
The rack does have a pre-load adjustment. It might take some out but I bet it won't get all of it.
You are most likely looking at a rebuilt rack to fix it.
The column can be worn out. Hold the shaft down by the rack and do the shake test.
JS
Otherwise it's in the shaft or the rack.
The rack does have a pre-load adjustment. It might take some out but I bet it won't get all of it.
You are most likely looking at a rebuilt rack to fix it.
The column can be worn out. Hold the shaft down by the rack and do the shake test.
JS
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
From: Ol Dirty Durham NC
Originally Posted by Rich Silvestris
Does the steering also kinda bind when you first start the car in the morning? That's another signal the rack is going South.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 806
Likes: 0
From: Langley B.C.
Originally Posted by C4CBF
no binding at all, the only thing I notice is the steering play,thats all. I was reading through the HELMs manual and it said you can adjust the rack, anyone done this?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 806
Likes: 0
From: Langley B.C.
It is a little cramped for space,but if you removed the sway bar I think you would be able to loosen the lock nut and tighten the plug clockwise till it bottoms out then you back it off 50 to 70 degrees.Then you are supposed to recheck the preload on the pinion.You need a 9/16 crowsfoot for that.Hope this helps!!
