Steering wheel free play
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,605
Likes: 202
From: Trinity FL
Steering wheel free play
94' LT1/M6
Curious how much "free play" is normal in the steering. While sitting still in the driveway I can turn the wheel left or right about a 1/4" with no movement from the wheels (no resistance). When driving, it almost feels like this "free play" is gone because I get instant direction left or right when I turn the wheel. Is this normal? I feel like it has always been this way I just started paying attention to it this morning. Can anyone else check theres? With key on/engine off or with engine idling how much free play do you have vs. when you are driving?
Otherwise steering feels fine. You just sort of notice that play when pulling out of the driveway at slow speeds...
Curious how much "free play" is normal in the steering. While sitting still in the driveway I can turn the wheel left or right about a 1/4" with no movement from the wheels (no resistance). When driving, it almost feels like this "free play" is gone because I get instant direction left or right when I turn the wheel. Is this normal? I feel like it has always been this way I just started paying attention to it this morning. Can anyone else check theres? With key on/engine off or with engine idling how much free play do you have vs. when you are driving?
Otherwise steering feels fine. You just sort of notice that play when pulling out of the driveway at slow speeds...
Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,373
Likes: 2,736
94' LT1/M6
Curious how much "free play" is normal in the steering. While sitting still in the driveway I can turn the wheel left or right about a 1/4" with no movement from the wheels (no resistance). When driving, it almost feels like this "free play" is gone because I get instant direction left or right when I turn the wheel. Is this normal? I feel like it has always been this way I just started paying attention to it this morning. Can anyone else check theres? With key on/engine off or with engine idling how much free play do you have vs. when you are driving?
Otherwise steering feels fine. You just sort of notice that play when pulling out of the driveway at slow speeds...
Curious how much "free play" is normal in the steering. While sitting still in the driveway I can turn the wheel left or right about a 1/4" with no movement from the wheels (no resistance). When driving, it almost feels like this "free play" is gone because I get instant direction left or right when I turn the wheel. Is this normal? I feel like it has always been this way I just started paying attention to it this morning. Can anyone else check theres? With key on/engine off or with engine idling how much free play do you have vs. when you are driving?
Otherwise steering feels fine. You just sort of notice that play when pulling out of the driveway at slow speeds...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,605
Likes: 202
From: Trinity FL
Well, yesterday after work I started to dive in. I moved the a/c compressor out of the way to get a look at the rag joint. It appears to be in good shape with no free play. While I was in there I tightened everything I could (Steering rack strap bolts and main bolt, and all the intermediate shaft bolts. None of them were really loose I just gave them a good snug. No more free play at all.
I originally wasn't experiencing a lot of free play, there was no dead spot. The steering just felt a little loose the first 1/2" or so of travel, the tires still moved with little input from the steering wheel. It just felt not as stiff. Either way, everything seems good now. I will change out the power steering fluid for good measure.
I originally wasn't experiencing a lot of free play, there was no dead spot. The steering just felt a little loose the first 1/2" or so of travel, the tires still moved with little input from the steering wheel. It just felt not as stiff. Either way, everything seems good now. I will change out the power steering fluid for good measure.
