loose steering

[MrSony]

that is light steering, not loose

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[UNGN]

When my son was 3, he sat is my Dad's 427 Cobra Replica and was just sawing at the steering wheel, pretending to race it.

I thought it was cute, until I saw the front wheels weren't moving. I popped the hood and saw the rag joint was torn and the though the upper shaft was moving, the input to the rack was not.

 

[pontiacgp]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

words have meanings ....🙂

but don't ask me why they call these cars motor cars

 

[Texas82GP]

words have meanings ....🙂

but don't ask me why they call these cars motor cars

We park on a driveway. We drive on a Parkway.

 

[383_GrandPrix]

We park on a driveway. We drive on a Parkway.

and Hamburgers have nothing to do with Ham

 

[mickeypowa]

Hi guys !!
First thanks everybody for your answers !!

Mickey, check the rag joint. It's the rubber connector between the steering shaft and the steering column. It may have a plastic shroud over it.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwiBtpvyvqTSAhUEilQKHW0EChAQwqsBCBwwAA&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=84lCWkrSae8&usg=AFQjCNH-4NxSncDDnpf3Q4uxA7cy-bgcrg

I found it under the plastic shroud and it seems not to be in good shape..
I've taken a video :

What do you think about it ?

Let me know what you find out. If you need one, I still have a few Astro van shafts ready to go to replace the old rag joint shaft.

Yes, I am interested because I think I need to replace the rag joint... so the shaft you sell works good on our gbodies ? Do I have any modifications to do to it to make it fit ? But could you ship it to french polynesia (tahiti) ?
Is it difficult to change the rag joint by the shaft or can I do it myself ?


I have another problem since today : when I drive, after a turn, my steering wheel doesn't go back in the center alone anymore, I have to pull it back, do you think I have tightened too much the adjustment screw on the top of steering box ?
also since I tightened the screw, the steering is harder but more precise

thanks

Mickeypowa

 

[mickeypowa]

Have someone turn the wheel while you inspect the movement of the steering components.

Here are possible locations for "looseness":
1) The steering column can be loose at the tilt joint - you need to disassemble the column and tighten the 4 bolts
2) the upper to lower column connection can be loose.
3) the rag joint needs replacing
4) - its in the box
5) the tie rods
6) the suspension

If you focus on the Box, I learned this week that the box is only "tight" on center. That means that if the "Flat" on the box input shaft HAS to be UP when the wheels are aligned straight. If the wheels are aligned straight and the flat on the input shaft is at a 45 degree angle to horizontal, there will be a dead spot on center going down the road.

I have always aligned the steering based on the steering wheel position. Now I will align the steering with steering gearbox center as the starting point.

If you can't get all the looseness out, caster helps a ton with "loose steering". A car with a lot of caster will still track straight, even with floppy steering.

- Where is the tilt joint ? Where are the 4 bolts to tighten ?

- I didn't understand what you said on the "flat" on the box input shaft. Where is it ?
i've taken a photo on internet, is that the flat in the red circle ? :


Thanks !

 

[UNGN]

Yes, that is the flat. With the wheels straight (not the steering wheel, the car wheels) the flat needs to be up. Therefore the bolt on the gearbox side of the rag joint should be up, too.

Take the car to a large parking lot drive it straight, then pop the hood and check to see if the bolt is straight up. If it is off at a angle, that is also part of the problem beside the rag joint. If the bolt/flat is straight up, and there is still slop in the box, you either have to live with it, or reman the box.

The rag joint is the big problem, now. Fix that and it will be significantly better,

 

[Texas82GP]

Mickey,

Yes, the rag joint is bad. Either replace it or replace the steering shaft with a Jeep or Astro shaft.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...qsM5IM&usg=AFQjCNF3I_w8pfO7Nlr016gJFGE6VbBuhw

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...i9soXsg&usg=AFQjCNE6zQy3P71EjY8ABACWiDgQi_uw6

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...9soXsg&usg=AFQjCNE6zQy3P71EjY8ABACWiDgQi_uw6g


http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...ljI64s&usg=AFQjCNF68l4uu0UACwvNNVTGKt161S5JrA

 

[UNGN]

If there is a junk yard in Tahiti (long shot) look for Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee's. The lower shaft from these bolts in and replaces the rag joint with a proper universal joint.