[Z06] Play in steering wheel
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
Play in steering wheel
First:
If you drive at 50mph+ and rock the wheel, it seems like it will move about 1.5-2" without effectivly steering the car.
Does yours do the same?
Next, which bothers me more:
It feels like the 1/4 of initial turn in is doing nothing now.
Driving down the freeway trying to follow the lane feels like something has changed in the steering. I probably looked like I was 2 blinks from going to sleep if you were following me.
I have been driving 1 hour a day, everyday, in the twisties for the past month (going to work). I don't know if this has accelerated any wear.
01Z with 75000 miles.
If you drive at 50mph+ and rock the wheel, it seems like it will move about 1.5-2" without effectivly steering the car.
Does yours do the same?
Next, which bothers me more:
It feels like the 1/4 of initial turn in is doing nothing now.
Driving down the freeway trying to follow the lane feels like something has changed in the steering. I probably looked like I was 2 blinks from going to sleep if you were following me.
I have been driving 1 hour a day, everyday, in the twisties for the past month (going to work). I don't know if this has accelerated any wear.
01Z with 75000 miles.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 0
From: Katy TX
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Try looking at the steering knuckle. I had play and watched the steering shaft when my son wiggled the wheel. Found that the bolt that held the knuckle to the shaft was loose and allowing the knukle to play. Tighten it up and put the shield back on..wala..tight again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 5
From: Overland Park KS
An easy fix..
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
When you say steering knuckle, are we talking about tie rods, or ball joints?
When I got home last night I shut it down and wiggled the wheel, I can hear a click when I turn to the left.
Tried to watch the steering shaft when I turned the wheel, but I need a helper.
Hopefully I can nail this down on saturday. Going to drive another car in the mean time.
When I got home last night I shut it down and wiggled the wheel, I can hear a click when I turn to the left.
Tried to watch the steering shaft when I turned the wheel, but I need a helper.
Hopefully I can nail this down on saturday. Going to drive another car in the mean time.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 0
From: Katy TX
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
When you say steering knuckle, are we talking about tie rods, or ball joints?
When I got home last night I shut it down and wiggled the wheel, I can hear a click when I turn to the left.
Tried to watch the steering shaft when I turned the wheel, but I need a helper.
Hopefully I can nail this down on saturday. Going to drive another car in the mean time.
When I got home last night I shut it down and wiggled the wheel, I can hear a click when I turn to the left.
Tried to watch the steering shaft when I turned the wheel, but I need a helper.
Hopefully I can nail this down on saturday. Going to drive another car in the mean time.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
Follow your steering down from your firewall. look down below your alternator. There is a piece of plastic with a clamp on it that surrounds the knuckle. Take the wrap off and you will see the knuckle and the bolt. I bet that you can move this around a good bit. If so, just tighten the bolt up and put the wrap back on.
I know what your talking about now.
where the steering shaft connects to the rack.
Thank you.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,728
Likes: 142
From: Iowa
I had the exact same problem after I had LG longtubes installed at a local performance shop. There was no slack at all, then I got the car back and there was 1" or so of side to side play in the wheel. They didn't tighten the steering shaft linkage bracket all the way after removing it to install the right side header (facing front bumper).
I could turn the wheel and see the slack by looking into the engine bay at the linkage/bracket when rotating it back and forth. I tightened it as much as I could and ALL slack was gone.
I could turn the wheel and see the slack by looking into the engine bay at the linkage/bracket when rotating it back and forth. I tightened it as much as I could and ALL slack was gone.
