Here's the deal... There is the tinest bit of "play" in the steering wheel that I'm feeling. It almost feels like I can move the wheel an inch or two to both sides before the resistance of actually moving the wheels kicks in. The problem becomes that going in a straight line the car is all over the road as the tires find grooves and pits in the asphalt. It's gotten to the point that I have to keep a constant grip on the wheel or I scare the hell out of people driving next to me.

I have the service manuals for the car and would like to do this myself, but I can't tell from reading through the troubleshooting where I should concentrate my efforts. When I had the car up in the air a couple weeks ago I wiggle the steering wheel a little bit and noticed that the linkage picks up right away all the way down to the steering rack itself, so I think it is something actually in the front suspension.

Do you guys think this is just something that needs tightening that I haven't found? or could it maybe be a hydraulic issue inside the unit itself?

Suggestions will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance...

 

I will be interested in any replies also, I have a similar situation with my 2000 FRC. I took it to the dealer just prior to the warranty expiration and they of course told me that there was nothing wrong! Mine is not all over the road, but there is play in the steering wheel, and I have also done as you have and cannot see where the play is coming from. :crazy:

 

My 98 coupe will also wander if I pick up a "groove" or "track" in the road. It scared the hell out me too. I've been told that because of the wideness of the tires, it's easier to pick up a groove. On a nice flat road the car handles fine. Lets see what other people have to say.
:steering:

 

Try seeing if you need a realignment. Which tires are you using??

 

vette#one - This is worse than just wide tires. My Z28 has had 265's up front and I had a *little* bit of finding a groove every once in awhile. The difference is that when you are driving with this problem it will find a groove and since there is no resistance the front wheels will pick up the groove immediately and usually head you towards a curb or another lane. With the Z28 I could hold the steering wheel steady and not have a problem because there was always pressure. This just lets it wobble back and forth and if it finds a groove I really have to correct.

Untouchable - I have the stock tires/wheels on the car now. I thought it might be an alignment, but it really seems like something more.

EDIT - I thought I would add. This isn't only on straights, when I corner in the car the steering wheel is loose for about an inch or two and *then* the front wheels turn.


[Modified by Trey395, 12:58 PM 1/30/2003]

 

Actually, it's a combination of the wide tires and a car that's not the same width as the other cars around you. See, a normal car is roughly "X" inches wide and after some time, the asphalt starts to get ruts in it from all the traffic being in the same spot. Contrary to popular belief, asphalt never gets completely solid.
Now, a car that is wider than "X" or narrower than "X' will put one tire in the rut and the other tire will be on the crown of the road or in the other side of the far rut- depending on whether you have a narrow or wide car. The car will tend to track through one rut while pulling to put the other tire in the other rut. It's a PITA until you get onto concrete with no ruts- then you'll notice that it's the road, and NOT the car, that's causing you problems. :cheers:

 

I understand what you are saying, however, this is not what I am concerned about. In my case, I can turn the wheel while stopped, and there is a little play that was NOT there when the car was new. Nor was it present in a new Z06. Also, when I am leaving the driveway, while turning the wheels and going down the little bump, I can feel a little play in the front wheels as they go down the bump. It is hard to explain.

I had the dealer check the alignment, and it was to spec, and I have not noticed any movement while grabbing and attempting to move the wheels while they are up in the air. This "looseness" almost seems like a wheel bearing issue, but as I stated, I do not feel any play when I attempt to move the wheel, either side to side or top to bottom. I am thinking it is in the steering box, like maybe there is too much play in the rack and pinion, maybe the gears are worn or they are not gapped properly.

The following of ruts or "tramlining" is something I expected with the wider tires on the Vette, and not an issue for me. It is, however, much better with the S03 tires than it was with the run flats.
:steering:

 

I agree with the all Above Postings. It is the Ruts. However...If this just started You might actually have a steering gear box problem... or severely worn bushings. I had the same problem in My 99 z28 and Gm replaced my gear box. That fixed it up. No more play and no more (unexpected) wandering. Hope that helps [IMG][/IMG] :flag

 

OK everybody... I appreciate all the input and I don't want to discourage people from contributing more, but please trust me. IT IS NOT JUST THE RUTS. The problem is in the steering, the ruts just make it more noticeable because they are causing the wheels to change direction constantly.

Here is an example. When I'm driving down the road perfectly straight in my '02 Z28 and I hit a rut, as long as I hold on and keep the steering wheel straight and don't let it move, the car will keep going straight. What happens in the vette is this... the wheels hit a rut, I keep the wheel perfectly straight but because of the play (lack of resistance) the front wheels still turn just a little bit. I actually have to correct by turning an inch or so in the opposite direction to keep the car straight.

Usually when this happens I hit a rut, wheels go left, I correct by turning right, come out of the rut, wheels go right, and have to correct again by turning left. I can't just drive down the road with the steering wheel straight.

pewterhrdtp - I can tell we're having the exact same problem. Please let me know if you get it fixed before I do and vice-versa.

poornluvnit - where is the steering gearbox located? that sounds like a likely culprit


[Modified by Trey395, 2:21 PM 1/30/2003]

 

Try to block one front wheel. I.E. lift the car on the left side so you can take a look below and block the opposite right front wheel. I mean block it not in driving direction but cross to the car so it will hold against your steering motion. With one wheel blocked and the steering wheel turned left and right by a second person you should be able to see where two parts move to each other. Maybe you could even hear it. But again, one wheel should be blocked very firm just like when you would park sideways to a sidewalk.
BTW this is a misuse test procedure here at DC :)
Hope to read some good news here....
Frederik

 

I know what you are talking about! You and I know your not :crazy: . My company truck is a 1999 chevy and it does the same thing. You can go down the road and move the steering wheel side to side about an inch or so either way and the truck keeps going straight. I hope someone who has had this problem will post.
:cheers:

 

I took my 2000 A4 to check the alignment and the outside steering terminal on the right side (both front and back)had some movement when the tire is on a lift and you rock it from side to side. Have to change both and align. Am waiting for the parts, they were ordered yesterday. Pretty sure this corrects it. :nopity

 

I finally got the 411 on this whole ordeal...

Dealer says the steering rack needs to be replaced due to worn gears. They estimated $1100 for labor and parts, and my guess is that is more labor than parts. Normally I'd say go for it, but I'm already looking at needing the clutch replaced soon as well.

Does anyone know where I can pick up a new steering rack and how much $$$. After reading some information I'm pretty confident I can do the replacement myself.

 

Trey,
Not sure how much play you have in your steering but my 97 wandered like hell from the day it was new. It would follow the ruts but the worst was pavement seams where road work had been done. It would literally take off across the highway following the seam where new pavement overlapped old pavement. I had the dealer's tech drive me to work so he could feel the problem. Even though he changed the alignment it still continued doing it. Then I started doing my own alignments (at his suggestion) and started by adding just a shade of toe in in addition to my own settings of caster and camber. Voila, the wandering is gone. The car is rock solid on the highway and the track. Remember the stock alignment has a large acceptable range. Acceptable toe goes from toe-in to toe-out.
Bill

 

Try posting in used parts, or Gene from Karshop. Oh by the way have wrenches will travel for some beer! :steering: :cheers:

 

I received a recall notice from GM about a week ago on the stearing assembly in several Chevy models across several years. The Vette wasn't listed but, you might have the dealer or your favorite shop check into the hydrolic assembly. As luck would have it my vehicle that was affected was totaled the week before so I didn't keep the paper work. Sorry.

LOL

:cheers:

 

My 98 does the exact same thing!

 

It is a combination of the wide tires and the EMTs. Before I set a little more toe in the car would pull like hell with the EMTs on but if I put my race tires on the pulling would go away. I am also running -1.8 degrees of camber which may help reduce the pulling but since I started adding just a little toe-in I have not really noticed any pulling even with a street setting.
Bill

 

Just wanted to give you guys an update. I *did* find a steering rack for $432 shipped. I also have a buddy that owns a shop that owes me a couple favors so that may be a possibility, but...

I stopped by my parents house tonight and talked to my dad about the issue. He offered to help me take a look at it. When he wiggled the steering wheel I watched the intermediary shaft and guess what only moved half of what it was supposed to??? So it looks like the intermediary needs tightening. Lower bolt was plenty firm, but upper I couldn't get to and I ran out of time. I think that is where the problem is since the shaft itself wasn't moving much but looks like it will have to wait till this weekend to know for sure.

If anybody has any suggestions on an easy way to get to that thing I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

EMTs :iagree: He said his FRC had the stock tires!! ... I hope you will not be too dissapointed after you replace the steering rack if your car continues to wander... I got rid of my Goodyear EMTs and the difference was amazing.