Without the keys in the ignition my steering wheel has a lot of play. Anyone know if this is normal?

When driving the steering wheel feels lose and shifts left and right following irregularities and bumps in the road. I've gotten an alignment, replaced tie rods, balanced wheels, tried stock wheels, but still the same problem.

 

What about adjusting the steering rack? There is a adjustment screw on most of them where is the slack can be adjusted.

 

If you can hear clunking when you move the wheel back & forth, but none of your balljoints are bad (check all 8), it may be your rack end bushing (manual steering only). It's a plastic bushing inside the passenger side end of the steering gearbox. It is what supports the rack gear & keeps it from wiggling. Mine is bad on my crx & when I'm stoping or driving on rough pavment, It feels like my right front wheel is kinda hopping around.

#10 in this pic:

 

sounds like that may be the issue, thanks!!

 

 

Well, you can also check the steering rack adjustment.

Here's a pic of what an adjustment screw is



1) loosen the lock nut, tighten the rack guide screw until spring is compressed against the guide.
2) loosen rack guide screw and retighten to 36 inch-lbs, then back off approx 25 degrees. Holding the guide screw in place, tighten the lock nut to 18 ft-lbs.

 

:saving info:downloading....:/saved:

 

ANYBODY TRY THIS WITH GOOD RESULTS???!!!???
ill stop yelling now.

 

my steeringwheel bounces when im stopping from above 50mph

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krnfly2damoon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my steeringwheel bounces when im stopping from above 50mph</TD></TR></TABLE>

your issue is probably "warped" brake rotors

 

94eg - does your fix apply to manual racks only? i'm looking at a diagram for a PS rack and dont see the bushing you're talking about. is there a counterpart on the PS rack?