xxxmikenicexxx

Hey everyone, Im really hoping someone can help me here. Im having problems with my steering being really, really loose. Its been the same way since I got the car. Ive tried everything, and Im at wits end here. Ill describe the problem first, when the car is not moving, the wheel will turn an inch or two without affecting the wheels at all, basically free play. When driving, the car is hard to control because of this sloppiness, and feels absolutely terrible. Ive done everything from multiple alignments to different wheel/tire combos (all balanced correctly) to recently, where I replaced the rack with a reman (Cardone) and all tie-rods, inner and outer. Ive jacked the car up and done the typical 12-6 and 3-9 check and there is no play. All balljoints look fine. This is driving me crazy! So basically everything in the steering system is new. There is no clunk when the wheel is sloppy, nothing is loose ive checked every bolt. Maybe steering shaft? Anyone experience this before? What was the fix? Thanks for looking, and whoever can help me out will be my personal hero!!!

Dogginator

I would check for play in the steering column.

Endo-land

Another thing to check would be the inner bushing(closest to center of the car) on the lower control arm, that was doing some crazy steering action on mine.

xxxmikenicexxx

Its wierd too, for the past few weeks, in the "middle" of the "looseness" it feels almost like its catching then stops.

I will def check that bushing asap. And for play in the column, although I do not see any play in the column itself, but will still look it over.

What about the u-joint for the steering shaft?

xxxmikenicexxx

OK, i think i found the problem...looks like it is the steering column u-joint. I found the bolt loose, and it was turning the shaft before actually turning the rack, and so I tightened that bolt, and now its much tighter, but still a tad loose, and theres almost a "pop" coming, where you can visibly see the input shaft to the rack move abruptly, near the u-joint. I believe it is play in the u joint causing this, as it does it only at one point during shaft moving.