Need help diagnosing loose steering!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 71
From: MA
Need help diagnosing loose steering!
I am at my wits end. I have tried just about everything to isolate the cause of ~ 1/8” dead spot in my steering.
With my vette stopped, if I turn the wheel either to the left or right, say ½ turn, and gently release the steering wheel the 1/8” play goes away. If I rock the steering wheel back and forth with decreasing amplitude the 1/8” play comes back.
Somehow turning the steering wheel with the car stopped loads the suspension and rack to make the free play go away. Rocking the steering wheel makes the play come back. With the car moving the free play is always there.
Here is what I have done so far:
Does anyone have any ideas what could be causing this free play? Your help would be really appreciated.
With my vette stopped, if I turn the wheel either to the left or right, say ½ turn, and gently release the steering wheel the 1/8” play goes away. If I rock the steering wheel back and forth with decreasing amplitude the 1/8” play comes back.
Somehow turning the steering wheel with the car stopped loads the suspension and rack to make the free play go away. Rocking the steering wheel makes the play come back. With the car moving the free play is always there.
Here is what I have done so far:
- Replaced my original rack with another used rack that I had rebuilt by Turn One. I reused my original outer tie rod end links. This didn’t cure the free play.
- Replaced my intermediate steering shaft with a new one. No difference.
- Retightened both upper and lower couplers (over torqued by 30-50%). No difference.
- Checked ball joints – they are good.
- With my car was on ramps I had someone sit in my car and rock steering wheel while I looked for any suspension or rack looseness. None could be seen or felt.
Does anyone have any ideas what could be causing this free play? Your help would be really appreciated.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 71
From: MA
Where is the rag joint? I replaced the intermediate steering shaft that contains upper and lower U joints. There is also a joint in the steering column tilt mechanism, but I have ruled that out when I stopped the steering column from rotating using a vice grip.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 71
From: MA
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
You have to drop the steering box and remove the bolts and slide the box and have easy access to it.
