minute freeplay with steering

[ekhybrid]

as title states...

is there something i can adjust to make the steering firm and tight again?
just feels a tad loose.

[Muzz]

yeah i was wondering the same thing a while back.

Id say replace the steering rack mounts, if there is such a thing lol, and if thre is any universal type joints in the shaft from the steering wheel to the rack, check to see if there tight, or if theres any give.
Check to see if the tie rod ends are tight and in good condition aswell.

These are just guesses, does anyone know of actual ways to reduce steering slop?

Alot of the road racers in USA convert there steering rack from power steering to manual, to make the steering firmer, and it apparently transfers alot more road feel & sensitiviy to the drivers hands. however this would not effect the amount of slop in the steering wheel.

[bennjamin]

Check the frontal suspension ~ bushes might be worn , tie rod ends might be loose , alignment might be out (toe) ~ If nothing else is broken or loose ~ increase positive frontal castor with a kit. Will increase feedback and stiffen the wheel somewhat too. Or get a smaller steering wheel :)

[ekhybrid]

thnx for the replies guys

[yellow-dc2]

convert to rose joint, maby a bit extreme for a road car. otherwise through process of elimenation start with the bushes and wheel alignment then work in.

[Muzz]

convert to rose joint, maby a bit extreme for a road car. otherwise through process of elimenation start with the bushes and wheel alignment then work in.

Rose joints? They wont reduce steering wheel free play. The freeplay isnt there because of the compliance experianced due to rubber bushes in the suspension. personally id work from the steering wheel to the rack, then to where the tie rods meet the steering knuckles, not from the wheels in.

Even with the loosest most sloppies bushes, if the steering wheel-steering rack-tie rod system was completly new and tight, the loose bushes wouldnt allow you to turn the wheel side to side 5-10 degrease with no actual change in angle of the wheel.
Alignment wont help either, the problem of freeplay, is experianced when u turn the wheel side to side slightly, and those small changes in steering angle dont cause the tie rod ends to push out and pull in on the steering knuckle arms. Alignment of the wheels wont effect this, it is a problem situated between the steering rack and steering wheels, also possibly where the rack is mounted to the chassis. Even with wheels way off alignment, with a perfectly working steering system, there wont be freeplay in the steering wheel, you turn it, the wheels will turn.


Castor will increase the steeing stiffness:thumbsup: it will be harder for the rack to turn the wheels, but i believe it wouldnt effect the steering wheels freeplay at all.

id do what ben recomended and check to see if the tie rod ends arnt worn to start with.

Id say the problem is due to wear in the steering rack gears and wear in the universal joints located in the steering shaft.
Maby also possibly due to loose tie rod ends and maby the mounting of the steering rack to the chassis.

[ekhybrid]

how do i know if the tie rods are worn?

[ekhybrid]

great info claymore
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