Re: Eliminating play in the steering

Posted by Bob Carabbio on September 13, 1997 at 19:54:10

In Reply to: Eliminating play in the steering
posted by Dan Wahle on September 11, 1997 at 08:47:21

The first thing to do is to have someone rock the steering wheel back and forth while you crawl around the front of the car and see what's moving.
What's common is:
The steering arms may be loose in the spindles.
The tie-rod ends on the drag link may be loose.
The pittman arm on the steering box may be loose on the shaft
The bushings on the steering sector shaft (that the pittman clamps to), and the sector shaft itself may be worn This would show up as sideways motion in the shaft.
If this doesn't illuminate the problem, then you will have to remove the steering gear from the car and inspect more fully.
The service bulletins have a good section on centralizing the adjustment of the worm/sector (the fourth adjustment) this can make a big difference if it's off drastically.
The play between the worm and sector should go to a small amount at the center position of the steering, and increase towards the lock position, being equal at both lock positions.
If the backlash at center setting can't be adjusted out, and the sector shaft and its bushings are in good shape, AND the steering shaft bearings are tight (no end motion) then the worm/sector combination is probably worn out.
While you're apart, pull the steering column off the steering box, and check to see that the steering shaft isn't bent. When you turn it, it shouldn't wobble at the steering wheel end. check the shaft bearing adjustment again with the column off.
a bent shaft can mask loose bearings.

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