Loose Steering - Help!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 361
From: Midland TX
Loose Steering - Help!
This is a carrover from a question I posted on another thread.
I had the Dealership replaced my Harmonic Balancer yesterday and when I picked the car up there is now about a 1-inch slack in the steering wheel when the car is going straight. In other words, I can turn the steering wheel back and forth while moving in a straight line and nothing happens until I steer hard left or right. I understand they had to remove part of the crossmember/steering components to access the Balancer, but what did they not get back in right? The reason I am asking here is because I don't think they know?
Also, is it "safe" to drive at all in this condition?
I had the Dealership replaced my Harmonic Balancer yesterday and when I picked the car up there is now about a 1-inch slack in the steering wheel when the car is going straight. In other words, I can turn the steering wheel back and forth while moving in a straight line and nothing happens until I steer hard left or right. I understand they had to remove part of the crossmember/steering components to access the Balancer, but what did they not get back in right? The reason I am asking here is because I don't think they know?
Also, is it "safe" to drive at all in this condition?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,503
Likes: 2
From: Oklahoma City OK
check the DIC to see if there are any codes...
It is possible that they let the steering wheel spin before the re attached it and now it is not centered.
This should be an easy fix if they know what they are doing.
It is possible that they let the steering wheel spin before the re attached it and now it is not centered.
This should be an easy fix if they know what they are doing.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 361
From: Midland TX
Just thought maybe someone here would know what would cause this so that I could tell them what to look for since I really don't think they know what they did wrong?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 361
From: Midland TX
If so, what is its purpose? Is it something like a "set screw" that is not really necessary for the steering to work, but just takes up the slack where I guess a splined shaft loosly attaches? Never seen what these look like disassembled? If this is its purpose that might very well be what is wrong. (Also, probably easy for a dealer to forget during reassembly).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,561
Likes: 447
From: Atlanta metro Ga.
Is this the "Pinch Bolt"?
If so, what is its purpose? Is it something like a "set screw" that is not really necessary for the steering to work, but just takes up the slack where I guess a splined shaft loosly attaches? Never seen what these look like disassembled? If this is its purpose that might very well be what is wrong. (Also, probably easy for a dealer to forget during reassembly).
If so, what is its purpose? Is it something like a "set screw" that is not really necessary for the steering to work, but just takes up the slack where I guess a splined shaft loosly attaches? Never seen what these look like disassembled? If this is its purpose that might very well be what is wrong. (Also, probably easy for a dealer to forget during reassembly).
This is a fairly common problem.. More than likely the pinch bolt you've identified above is the culprit.. You need to really crank it down, otherwise there will be quite a bit of play between the inside post on the steering gear and the outside tube tied to the steering wheel.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette
Pouria Savadkouei
How Likely Are These Five 2027 Corvette Rumors to Be True?
Brett Foote
9 Best Corvettes You Can Buy for Half Price (& 1 You Should NEVER Buy!)
Joe Kucinski
8 Very Best Corvettes of Amelia Island 2026
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 WORST Corvette Engineering Failures of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
10 Records the C8 Corvette Generation Has SMASHED (& 1 Glaring Failure)
Joe Kucinski
7 Wildest Corvette Concepts Ever Made
Brett Foote
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 361
From: Midland TX
This is a fairly common problem.. More than likely the pinch bolt you've identified above is the culprit.. You need to really crank it down, otherwise there will be quite a bit of play between the inside post on the steering gear and the outside tube tied to the steering wheel.
Can I mess something up by tightening the Pinch Bolt right now? Does it need to be in a certain relationship to the steering gear end? I am just flying blind without a photo of how these two pieces look when apart? My Helm Manuals show nothing but a small sketch - useless for this.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 361
From: Midland TX
This is a fairly common problem.. More than likely the pinch bolt you've identified above is the culprit.. You need to really crank it down, otherwise there will be quite a bit of play between the inside post on the steering gear and the outside tube tied to the steering wheel.
Thanks for the Pinch Bolt tip - that "apparently" was the problem. It did not feel loose using my Snap-On 3/8" rachet with a 13mm socket, but the Helm Manual said to torque it to 25 ft.lbs so I got out the torque wrench and it felt like it might have been at about 15 ft.lbs. Took it up to 25 and problem seems to have gone away! Hope that is all it was!
Thanks again - just hope the shaft was seated properly before I cranked it down - don't have any way of knowing since I don't know how these two parts actually connect prior to tightening?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,419
Likes: 905
From: CONCORD NC
I agree, check the pinch bolt. If it is loose, it will still work, but the steering will be sloppy.
Oh never mind, see yoiu fixed it. If it was on at all, it is correct. It will only go on 2 ways, the right way, and 180 degress off. If it was 180 degrees off, your steering wheel would be upside down.
Oh never mind, see yoiu fixed it. If it was on at all, it is correct. It will only go on 2 ways, the right way, and 180 degress off. If it was 180 degrees off, your steering wheel would be upside down.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 361
From: Midland TX
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 30
Likes: 3
From: San Diego CA
I have the same problem.
The Corvette specialist that I use looked at it yesterday and thinks that the universal joint at the steering rack is worn because the column moves and the splined end coming out of the rack doesn't.
I'll have to find and check the pinch bolt that you speak of.
The Corvette specialist that I use looked at it yesterday and thinks that the universal joint at the steering rack is worn because the column moves and the splined end coming out of the rack doesn't.
I'll have to find and check the pinch bolt that you speak of.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 30
Likes: 3
From: San Diego CA
I have the same problem.
The Corvette specialist that I use looked at it yesterday and thinks that the universal joint at the steering rack is worn because the column moves and the splined end coming out of the rack doesn't.
I'll have to find and check the pinch bolt that you speak of.
The Corvette specialist that I use looked at it yesterday and thinks that the universal joint at the steering rack is worn because the column moves and the splined end coming out of the rack doesn't.
I'll have to find and check the pinch bolt that you speak of.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 936
Likes: 8
From: England United Kingdom
hi
Been there done that to myself.just used a ratchet and tighten the bolt up.it does feel like its tight.THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS THEY GIVE US A TQ SETTING NUMBER.When i used a tq wrench it pinches the
clamp up,bends the metal against the shaft.shame i didnt see this post
right away
Glade you got it sorted 
Been there done that to myself.just used a ratchet and tighten the bolt up.it does feel like its tight.THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS THEY GIVE US A TQ SETTING NUMBER.When i used a tq wrench it pinches the
clamp up,bends the metal against the shaft.shame i didnt see this post
right away
Glade you got it sorted
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
I have the same problem but I may have a bigger issue when I crank the pinch bolt down the whole shaft turns and goes crooked. Does that make sense by my description? It seems to me it should be straight nit knuckled out ?