When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have about 1 inch of play in my steering wheel and the return-ability is
fair. The wheel comes back on its own after a turn except for the very end I fine myself manually bringing it back to straighten the wheels. I have 255-60-15 tires on the front and am wonder if this may be the problem with the return-ability?
I have about 1 inch of play in my steering wheel and the return-ability is
fair. The wheel comes back on its own after a turn except for the very end I fine myself manually bringing it back to straighten the wheels. I have 255-60-15 tires on the front and am wonder if this may be the problem with the return-ability?
That sounds about right.
The wider the tire the more effort required to turn the wheel.
I am running 255-60-15 as well.... going to 225-70-15 when the time comes
It took me forever to find the source of my play. In the end it was the bracket attached to the frame for the factory power steering ram. Visibly it looked solid, but the nuts had backed off enough so it had some wobble when the wheel was turned. Not sure if that will help with the return to center, but may get rid of some play.
the play could be the steering box needing adjusting and the return issue could be caster. When is the last time you had an alignment and what did they set the caster to?
It could some of the things mentioned above but the tire size should not be one of them. Alignment, steering box play (highly recommend a GTR1999 custom blueprint/rebuild since factory boxes are/were very sloppy), ragjoint, balance valve out of adjustment, worn suspension components, etc............
Sounds like an alignment might be a solution. The tech should be able to point out things that need to be replaced. If nothing to replace the alignment should get it.
the play could be the steering box needing adjusting and the return issue could be caster. When is the last time you had an alignment and what did they set the caster to?
I just completed a alignment myself and then took in to a shop. If i remember right the caster is around +2
also there is a bushing at the frame end of the power steering ram. it is 2 piece. inner and outer sleeve. the inner gets all squishy and soft and outer part looks ok. I replaced mine with a standard shock absorber bushing I had around.
I have a funny feeling its going to be the steering box, it looks like the PO had it replaced or worked on. The lash adjustment screw and top cover are very clean, the whole steering box looks cleaner then other parts under the hood. Maybe it just needs adjusted (yea right).
The steering feel you describe is exactly how my '82 behaves. I chalk it up to a worn out steering box. I just haven't had the motivation to tear into it yet. We are running the same tires as well. Here is the sheet from the alignment I had done after replacing the front suspension bushings.
hard to say when a little is normal to one person but
scary to another.
i can say when the car was brand new,
there was no play.
holding the wheel perfectly still and
avoiding the instinct to turn it a little
was a new thing to get used to.
mine now, old, is very tight.
i did rebuild the box and use good ***** and bushings in the whole system
Well i tried to adjust the steering box today and it didn't make difference. I could not adjust the input worm gear because i was not able to break the lock nut loose. I really think the system is normal and I'm too use to newer vehicles with rack and pinion steering. It goes down the road straight so I guess I'll quit trying to fix something that's not broke. Thanks for all the info everyone.
03-21-2018, 05:17 AM
How Much Play is too Much?
