1996 steering column play
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 75
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From: Sulphur KY
1996 steering column play
Hey thanks everyone for all the help that you have provided me on some of my past issues.
Now the problem i am haveing is that i have a lot of play in my column i can turn it to the right or left a pretty good distance before it moves the wheels.
I think i have found where the problem lies but not sure if there are serviceable parts there or not.
where my column comes out of the firewall and connects to the shaft (the one that goes to the rack and pinion) there is play the shaft doesnt turn until about a 1/4 to an 1/8 of a turn from the wheel.
When i jacked the front end of the car up and had both wheels off the ground i could move them back and forth 1/4 to 1/8th of a turn and see the play at the column/shaft the column would not movewhen i was moving the wheels and vise versa when i was moving the column.
I read something about a u joint where these two meet but it didn't talk much about it.
Is this a user serviceable part? Is it replaceable just like a ujoint on an axle?
Any where on this forum that shows how to fix this problem? Thanks for any responce
Now the problem i am haveing is that i have a lot of play in my column i can turn it to the right or left a pretty good distance before it moves the wheels.
I think i have found where the problem lies but not sure if there are serviceable parts there or not.
where my column comes out of the firewall and connects to the shaft (the one that goes to the rack and pinion) there is play the shaft doesnt turn until about a 1/4 to an 1/8 of a turn from the wheel.
When i jacked the front end of the car up and had both wheels off the ground i could move them back and forth 1/4 to 1/8th of a turn and see the play at the column/shaft the column would not movewhen i was moving the wheels and vise versa when i was moving the column.
I read something about a u joint where these two meet but it didn't talk much about it.
Is this a user serviceable part? Is it replaceable just like a ujoint on an axle?
Any where on this forum that shows how to fix this problem? Thanks for any responce
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 409
Likes: 2
From: Toronto Ontario
yes there is a universal joint b/f the linkage to the actual rack, midway b/w it and the firewall. Not so sure this is your problem. If there's play in your steering then it could be the gears in the rack are gone, inner or outer tie rods, and even ball joints.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Sulphur KY
You can see the linkage move when you move the wheels while the car is jacked up but where it meets the column it (the column) doesn't move.
Then if you turn the steering wheel it moves but the linkage doesnt where it meets the column
Then if you turn the steering wheel it moves but the linkage doesnt where it meets the column
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,780
Likes: 140
From: cyberspace NY
there;s a bolt at the top and bottom of the intermediate shaft, make sure they are TIGHT. also, there are 2 bolts that go through the rag joint, must be tight. It is a bitch to work on, and I think GM doesn;t offer the intermediate shaft any more. If the ujoint is loose in the upper shaft, find a junk yard.
