Cascade Crew

BluFbdy

So my steering wheel has always had a bit of slop in it but its gotten worse ive got about 3inches of play now and I used to have like 1... The car at low speeds is alright but on the highway it seems to want to travel on its own. Changing lanes is getting to be scary so I figured its time to inspect the steering components.

I know to check for play in the tie rods by trying to move them by hand,, without looking at it I'm thinking that's gonna be a problem spot since the wheels are trying to travel on their own. Ball joints were replaced a few years ago and idk how to check them. Also a solution for the rag joint and the steering box adjustment would be cool
Is there a way to replace the rag joint? As for the steering box I've got a quick ratio steering box I've never installed at home because I didn't want to swap it and it be worse, I remember something about a nut and an Alan head but that's all I remember lol

Looked up a full front end rebuild kit from spohn and it was like 350$ so if I can identify worn parts and replace as needed is prefer that route
So what should I look for and how do I find the issues?

TIA

aaron_sK · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:28 am Post subject:

Check the rag joint and box by pushing the plastic cover up the column and shining a torch down there. Have someone turn the wheel slowly while you watch the whole assembly.

Focus on how far the shaft turns before the input on the box starts to move, and how far the input on the box turns before the pitman arm moves.

91RSVert · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:57 am Post subject:

Ball joints you check by jacking the car up on the a-frame, and then slide a board under the tire and apply pressure to the tire in upward motion. If the tire moves, and the a-frame doesnt. Balls are bad.

To me, it sounds more idle arm or center link. To check, while the car is on the tires in driving position. Slide under the car and try to move center link up/down on each end. If it wiggles, one of the two is bad.

Also check for loose wheel bearings. That will give sloppy steeing.

My truck has sloppy steering becuase I havent replaced the bushings in the arms. I dont know of a good way to check them.

BluFbdy · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:38 am Post subject:

aaron with the plastic cover your talking about is that over the joint itself? cuz i dont have one of those

Its been a while since i did front brakes and repacked my wheel bearings so i think ill check everything tonight as long as it gets slow at work, ive got a mustang coming back that i did a body kit on i have to do side skirts foir but he should be showing up anytime now, skirts just need to be notched and attached

ill let you guys know what i find correct me if im wrong but i can check wheel bearings by lifting the car and then pulling in and out on the tire looking for play right?

91RSVert · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:06 pm Post subject:

pull in out, jerk left to right, up down. Doesnt really matter. If it clunks or wiggles, you have issues.

BluFbdy · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 2:21 pm Post subject:

I'll get on it ASAP I got a 95 better in now with bose pods filled with water lol. Full rewire and new system. Funny how when I need to work on my car I'm flooded with customers but when my cars doing good its dead

redlava · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:13 pm Post subject:

You need to get the front end in the air to feel the slop in the steering box. Don't tighten the box all the way, till there is no slop. The steering wheel will be too touchy. Fine adjustments make the difference. When I have fine tuned boxes before an 1/8th turn will make a difference at the end.

BluFbdy · Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 4:32 pm Post subject:

SO i got this fixed last night, with minimal errors.... pulled the intermediate shaft last night and drilled out the rivets, replaced the rubber disk and the steering is tight as hell now no box adjustment needed! Still kinda sketchy on the way it wwent in though Dorman makes the disk and provides "install parts" which make ZERO sense. I just used some nuts and bolts and sandwiched the bushing in the factory pieces then bolted it back in, kinda wanna just buy a new shaft though, not to big on hokey jobs and this tops my list lol

New shaft for 120$, or a disk for 8$.... maybe i could saved my hand from the drill, and my cutoff wheel from shattering.

Biggest problem with this is that it threw my steering wheel off to the left, i did an alignment a ways back and had to adjust it to "straight" on the worn out one and now that its good "stright" isnt so good lol ill just put up with it for a bit then get an alignment and all will be good Very Happy

aaron_sK · Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 4:58 pm Post subject:

You don't necessarily need to get another alignment. Just turn the tie rods an equal number of turns till the wheel is centered.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 5:00 pm Post subject:

Yup.

I forget, are the steering wheels indexed?

chevymad · Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 6:10 pm Post subject:

BluFbdy · Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:51 pm Post subject:

That's true.... Well maybe when I get bored ill jump on that lol or if it was off enough I was just gonna turn the momo wheel butbits not far enough