Play in steering wheel is driving me nuts

Replaced steering rack,inner and outer tie rod ends,and still got lots of play in wheel, any suggestions?

 

Intermediate steering shaft.

 

Did you try grabing the 2 part shaft under the dash? Theres a 2 piece joint. Grab the bottom part with your left hand and turn the wheek back and forth with your right hand. Common problem.

 

Define "play on the wheel"

Steering wheel or wheel/tire?

 

Steering wheel 02

 

https://youtu.be/xsOptgpfshg

@MTgirl @jberry813 maybe move this to First Gen general forum?

 

I hold the shaft under the dash and turn the wheel back in forth,dont think that's my problem.I can grab the shaft right above where it connects to the rack,it feels like the play is in the rack unit itself,but it's a new rack.Is there any adjustment on the rack?

 

You can tighten the rack guide. I'd also take a close look at your LCA bushings.

 

Here’s a video for adjusting the rack guide:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r4Hhl225E8A

 

You could also replace the steering rack guide with the newer type.


Before


After

 

He's replaced the rack so it should be the new style. Even if it's not it's still a new old style. Those racks are almost always set correctly from the factory so I'm betting his LCA bushing are beyond shot.

 

Agreed.

@z71bowhunter make sure this joint is still solid.

 

New rack, refurbished or salvage yard? It could easily have the old style that has more play from the get go. You can tell if it has the old bushing just by looking at it (post a photo). No matter what bushing it has, it's pretty easy to check for play. Just pull the drivers side boot back, and see how much it moves up and down. I'm not saying the LCA bushings are not shot, just it's very easy to see if the rack has play in it.

 

I installed a new oem rack for a TW member and the rack was moving like a full inch side to side. The last 2 racks I've recommended the energy suspension steering rack bushings. Cheap and they really make the rack stay still during operation.

Either video tape it or have someone watch the rack under the truck while you turn the steering wheel back and forth. If the whole rack moves replace with the energy suspension kit.

 

It is a cheap chinese rack I ordered off ebay,it came with with all the bushings you are showing in last pic.I know I get what I pay for,but at the time didn't have $500 to drop on a rack.The rack is not moving,I will make a video of where I'm turning with my hand.I also put a new rag joint assembly when I installed the rack in.The one pictured also.

 

Have you gotten aligned since changing all of that? If your toe is out of whack you can have some gnarly play.

 

That is another thread,,,lol.I took it to have it aligned after the rack installation a year later,but the motor went out after I did this rack install so,,,,,it was time to do the alignment.They told me they couldn't align it with the 1inch spring spacer I installed during this time,said he was running out of adjustment.I never thought about that effecting the play in the steering that badly.

 

if he couldn't align it with a 1" spacer you have other components that are far more worn than the steering rack, best to go through and replace as necessary (or go to a different shop)

 

Randy, if you get up to NC near Raleigh, I can pull and weld the intermediate shaft for you in less than an hour and shim the ball joint in there as well to see if that helps you out. I just did one that I couldn’t notice the play until the shaft was out and on my table. Just a slight bit of play (1/16”) goes a long way amplified throughout the steering geometry.

 

This. Likely LCA'S worn out. That or they installed the steering rack not centered.