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Steering wheel PLAY
- Thread starter Scott A
- Start date
Scott,
you may want to have this done at a 'shop'.
it's been many years since i've personally done this, so this is all from memory. there's a steering 'box'(it's on the driver's side of the radiator and between the rad and the firewall) that's connected to the steering colum and turns the 'pitman' arm, which is connected to and turns the centerlink which is connected to the tie rods and then the front wheels. there is also an idler arm bolted to the passenger side of the frame (near the oil filter) to support the linkages on that side of the car. if these pieces are stock, they are most likely worn out and need to be replaced. you would also need to get an alignment after replacement.
there is one other adjustment you can do to the steering 'box' itself. this is more fuzzy. there's a nut on top with an allen head screw in it. you can adjust the amount of play in the box by loosening the nut and tightening or loosening the allen screw. i think the correct procedure is to have both front wheels off the ground (car supported by jackstands of course)with the key in ignition, in acc position so the wheels can turn. grab a tire and turn it all the way left and then right and note any 'stick' during any point of that travel. if it feels like free travel all the way thru, you could probably tighten the preload alittle. after any adjustments you will have to do the tire turning thing again to make sure it doesnt get too tight. you have to do this by grabbing a tire because its harder to turn and thus easier to notice any tight spots. i hope this is correct and not too confusing. anyone should feel free to jump in and correct me if i'm wrong. sorry its so long. hope this helps.
russ
TTA795
you may want to have this done at a 'shop'.
it's been many years since i've personally done this, so this is all from memory. there's a steering 'box'(it's on the driver's side of the radiator and between the rad and the firewall) that's connected to the steering colum and turns the 'pitman' arm, which is connected to and turns the centerlink which is connected to the tie rods and then the front wheels. there is also an idler arm bolted to the passenger side of the frame (near the oil filter) to support the linkages on that side of the car. if these pieces are stock, they are most likely worn out and need to be replaced. you would also need to get an alignment after replacement.
there is one other adjustment you can do to the steering 'box' itself. this is more fuzzy. there's a nut on top with an allen head screw in it. you can adjust the amount of play in the box by loosening the nut and tightening or loosening the allen screw. i think the correct procedure is to have both front wheels off the ground (car supported by jackstands of course)with the key in ignition, in acc position so the wheels can turn. grab a tire and turn it all the way left and then right and note any 'stick' during any point of that travel. if it feels like free travel all the way thru, you could probably tighten the preload alittle. after any adjustments you will have to do the tire turning thing again to make sure it doesnt get too tight. you have to do this by grabbing a tire because its harder to turn and thus easier to notice any tight spots. i hope this is correct and not too confusing. anyone should feel free to jump in and correct me if i'm wrong. sorry its so long. hope this helps.
russ
TTA795
Sounds right to me, might want to mention that it is usually just a bandaid for bigger problems, if you tighten the gearbox and something else such as tie rod ends, center link, drag link, or any other part of the steering is worn and has play you will still have slop in the steering and will constantly be fighting to keep it straight, it makes for a really interesting driving experience to say the least. (so does having absolutely no slop at all, imagine 1 degree of steering wheel movement for a lane change
)
sorry!
i meant to say check for play (worn) in the steering linkages, but i guess i wasnt clear.
when i did that many years ago, i replaced with Moog parts because they were stronger. there's also a new tie rod adjusting sleeve you can get to make adjustments easier.
thanks for pointing that out!
russ
tta795
i meant to say check for play (worn) in the steering linkages, but i guess i wasnt clear.
when i did that many years ago, i replaced with Moog parts because they were stronger. there's also a new tie rod adjusting sleeve you can get to make adjustments easier.
thanks for pointing that out!
russ
tta795
IF by play you mean side to side and top to bottom play in the steering wheel at the tilt mechanism, there are some screws that can come loose inside, requiring the wheel and hub to be removed to access. My 89 Jimmy had this problem, and I just noticed it on my TTA, which has the same style steering column.
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TTA 1022
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TTA 1022
