My car has 85K on it and now the steering wheel seems a little loose, which basically means the car feels a little looser. When I say loose, I mean whenever I hit something irregular in the road such as dips, potholes (big or small), the steering wheel will slightly shift left or right. This happens often when I am taking turns too, which wasn't the case b4.
It just doesn't seem stable or sturdy enough...

 

I think what are are experiencing is excess freeplay. Basically measure (at the handles) how much you have to move the steering wheel before the wheels actually start moving. Just move it back and forth til you dont see the wheels move and that is the freeplay. I dont remember how much.. but say if it's more than 1.5" then there is something whack with the steering system or something in that area.

 

seems like you know what you are talking about

thanks...that's the problem I am having....excess freeplay in the steering wheel...wonder what I can do to remedy this

 

You gotta find where the freeplay is coming from.

Does the freeplay feel mushy/rubbery or is there a definite loose knocking to it?

Knocking - maybe the shaft or U-joints inside your steering column are loose? Maybe the ball joints at the ends of the tierods are loose? Or the balljoints at the upper or lower control arms?

If its just rubbery flexibility in the steering, then look for worn or rotted bushings somewhere. So much of your suspension & steering is fastened with rubber bushings and they get old...

Put the car up on ramps so you can get underneath. Have someone turn the steering wheel back & forth just enough to watch the freeplay. It might be the mounting brackets that hold the steering rack to the car. Are they loose? Or maybe rubber bushings are getting sloppy on the control arms?