complicated relationship with the ms.

neetyrom · Post by **neetyrom** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 3:36 am

hello,
my Ms. had her whole new front suspension and steering replaced. i.e. center link, inner and outer tie rods, k-mac camber/caster plates, new shocks, new stabilizer bushings, new control arms, I got it aligned with everything being only of a couple +/- 0.3 degrees. With that being said, when I drive it feels wonderful, but it their is still some play with the steering wheel and the rest of the suspension. Does anybody have any tips to remedy this.
Im thinking it could be the steering box or the steering column but I wouldn't know where the problem could lie with out messing it up further.

GripGreg · Post by **GripGreg** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 12:50 pm

On top of the steering box there is a screw held tight by a nut surrounding it.
Loosen the nut to adjust the screw, re-tighten while holding the screw in place & go for a spin.
Re-adjust if necessary, go in small increments as it really doesn't take much.
Righty tighty, lefty loosey.
Prolly a good idea to WD-40 the area first to cleanse it.
Guys, correct me if I'm wrong,,please!

Greg
Ps,,The box is in line with the steering column but, under the hood close to the firewall.

neetyrom · Post by **neetyrom** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 9:24 pm

wow here i thought it would be much more complicated, ill give it a whirl, thanks Greg

neetyrom · Post by **neetyrom** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 3:50 pm

It made a huge difference Greg, thank you much for letting me know. \God Bless/

wkohler · Post by **wkohler** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 4:03 pm

I would not have done that right away. You tighten that too much, you will need a new box soon. You also don't tighten that without being absolutely sure the box is centered. Not the steering wheel. The box itself. These cars have an inherent numbness on center due to the steering box. It's normal.

GripGreg · Post by **GripGreg** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 10:13 pm

Chris, like I said, please correct me if I'm wrong.
What's the option?

neetyrom · Post by **neetyrom** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 2:53 am

Forgive me for the inconvenience, I had just worked the night shift and my poor judjement didn't reconcile for Greg's gesture in fixing the steering. From my observation in driving to work tonight, I realized that preforming Greg's adjustment although tightened/ stiffened the steering it did not account for the play in the steering that catches curves in the roads and shifts direction from a kink in in the street. It's almost like it's really sensitive to the roads conditions and gives way to its harshness. 3 years ago, I never experienced anything like this. Although it is a miniscule problem I'm tempted to take It into a shop to allocate a diagnosis. Otherwise if somebody has an input I'd be more than happy to hear you out.

wkohler · Post by **wkohler** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 3:08 am

Did you replace the idler arm/bushing? Didn't see it on your list. Radius Rod bushings?

neetyrom · Post by **neetyrom** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 3:21 am

The idler arm bushing seemed fine because it had no cracks no or creaking noises. But what's a radius rod? Haha never heard of it before.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 11:34 am

Two things I found on my own car that caused slack in the steering are the rubber coupling disc that connects the steering shaft with the steering box in the engine compartment. I also had a very small slack in the spline shaft that allows the telescoping function of the steering wheel. Have you done the wiggle test? you can wiggle the steering wheel slightly while looking and feeling all the parts of the steering to find looseness. Also, as shared already, the centering of the steering pitman arm is crucial... if it is not right in the center with the steering wheel also centered, you will feel the looseness that is inherent in the steering gear on either side of center.

Falkenberg · Post by **Falkenberg** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 4:29 pm

I've been wondering for years how you can center the box. Is there a procedure? marks?

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 10:10 pm

From years ago, the best I can remember it... I disconnected the center tie rod from the pitman arm on the steering box. My worm gear adjustment screw was not all the way tight, just allowing a tiny amount of slack. By grabbing onto the pitman arm and wiggling it back and forth, I could feel the slack. I slowly tightened the worm gear adjuster screw - and checked the decreasing slack in the pitman arm alternately with adjusting the screw 1/4 turn at a time. I was able to feel the center as the slack was removed there. I have read in the manual about a procedure of measuring the resistance of the steering wheel to turning in relation to the worn screw adjustment - I did not apply this method. I simply adjusted the screw until I could not feel slack in the pitman arm in the center of its travel while the rest of the linkages were not attached. I do not remember if there are any marks for the center position of the pitman arm. Leaving the pitman arm centered, I re-installed the steering wheel in a centered position. Then I attached the steering linkage. Then I checked that the steering wheel would turn right and left from center by the same amount each direction. It did. If I did not end up with a centered steering box, I am not able to detect it while driving the car. It is very very close if not right on.

neetyrom · Post by **neetyrom** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 6:46 am

where's the warm gear adjustor screw, is it the screw on top of the steering box?

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:52 am

Yes, the adjuster screw on the top with the locking nut. I'm not sure of it's name really...

neetyrom · Post by **neetyrom** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 12:04 pm

Haha funny name for it nonetheless.