Steering wheel play

[dankwun]

I have alot of play in my steering wheel on my MM. I can move the steering wheel about an inch or two before the tires move. Also when i am driving around 75 to 80ph it as really bad vibration. I noticed that my steering shaft has alot of play in it and i can wiggle it if i pull on it. Has anyone else had this problem? Is it posible to replace just the bushings or do i need a whole new shaft?

[mrjones]

You need to get someone to wiggle the wheel while you work your way down looking at the linkage to see where the play is in the system.

[RoyLPita]

+1. Try to find a place and get that checked out.

[tjg442]

+1. Try to find a place and get that checked out. Best advice !!!

Brakes and steering problems, get it checked out "NOW"

[bigbillybbs]

Yuppp, I have a similar problem. I don’t have play in the steering wheel, but at 80mph the steering wheel has a vibration in it. Shakes Slightly. But rides pin point strait if I let go of the wheel .
???

[justbob]

Yuppp, I have a similar problem. I don’t have play in the steering wheel, but at 80mph the steering wheel has a vibration in it. Shakes Slightly. But rides pin point strait if I let go of the wheel .
???

Same with me years ago, new front tires solved it, perfectly smooth since.

[dankwun]

[quote=bigbillybbs;746242]Yuppp, I have a similar problem. I don’t have play in the steering wheel, but at 80mph the steering wheel has a vibration in it. Shakes Slightly. But rides pin point strait if I let go of the wheel .
???
[/quote

hmm..My steering wheel vibrates alot and if i let go of it my car pulls hard to the right. And my front tires are worn on the inside because of the alignment. So i want to figure out why my steering wheel has play in it so i can get it fixed before i get an a alignment so i put the new tires on and not mess them up.

[justbob]

It sounds as like you definately have something worn on yours. Check all linkage.

[Ozz]

I had this problem at about 59k miles. I could actually hear a noise as I turned the wheel back and forth quickly. Replaced the intermediate steering shaft (goes from the firewall to the steering gear) and it is gone.

[juno]

Check the couplings at the ends of your knuckles/shaft by the headers. They need to be Real Tight!
How's your PS fluid?

[dankwun]

p/s fluid is fine.. all the knuckles appear to be tight. I looked under my dash and there is a piece that has a spring on it that is making a squeaking noise when i turn the wheel back a forth. I noticed that the piece/rod that goes into the steering gear is turning with the shaft.. could the play be in there and not in the shaft or would play in the shaft allow that to move?

[Got_1]

[/quote]hmm..My steering wheel vibrates alot and if i let go of it my car pulls hard to the right. And my front tires are worn on the inside because of the alignment. So i want to figure out why my steering wheel has play in it so i can get it fixed before i get an a alignment so i put the new tires on and not mess them up.[/quote]

your steering wheel vibrates because of the inside wear on your tires. if you run your hand over the worn tread you'll notice that it is choppy, which is extactly what causes the wheel shimmy. pick up a set of front tires and get an alignment. that will cure both your steering wheel shimmy and pull.

[scruff]

you might also have a worn balljoint throwing the alignment out = uneven tread wear

[GordonB]

dankwun,
First you need new tires and then you need an alignment done to Carfixer's specs. Then road test and get the Steering checked. I would do these things in that order, FWIW. I can relate to the inside tire wear and premature tire death.
GordonB

[justbob]

Any good alignment shop checks everything before alignment. Not only would they like your money for repairs, they can't warranty a decent alignment when the car still veers off the road.

[duhtroll]

Check the bolt in the steering linkage. It is threaded one way but will fit backwards. If you put the bolt in backwards there will be a little play in the steering. Ask me how I know... :o

[juno]

[quote=dankwun;746589]p/s fluid is fine.. all the knuckles appear to be tight. quote]

Appearances can be deceiving. :D
Trust me on this one, make sure they are real tight. It may not be the problem, but if they are not real tight, it will cause the same problem.

I had to make some ....adjustments.... :eek: to the lower one because of the turbo headers. I had it in and out several times. I thought I had it tight enough the last time, but iended up with the same symptoms.

[dankwun]

I had this problem at about 59k miles. I could actually hear a noise as I turned the wheel back and forth quickly. Replaced the intermediate steering shaft (goes from the firewall to the steering gear) and it is gone.

yea.. im at 59k right now im im pretty sure this is my problem with the steering wheel play. Is the intermediate shaft just the piece that connects from the knuckle closest to the ire wall to the rack? Cause i think my problem is with the knuckle closest to the fiewall, what would i need to order to replace this?