2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission steering

[DThelen]

My steering has degraded over the years. I have put a steering support on the pitmint arm, wich helped alot. New track bar and ball joints. It just seems like it has gotten worse. Everything acts tight,but I noticed today that I can get alot of twisting motion out of the bar that contects the two wheels together with the tie rods. If you twist it, the front wheel toe in changes buy 1/4 or more.

what do you guy think?



Dan

 

[DThelen]

I looked at it better. The toe in don't change. The left to right of both wheels chang a 1/4 inch. If there enough pressure on the steering to twist that bar in the joints. that's alot of play

 

[JFaughn]

Sounds like the ball joint at either end of it are warn , use 3-5 ft. pry bar and see if you can pry straight up & down at either joint and find movement .

 

[JamesSimpson]

Are you talking about the tierod ends. My 02 does the same thing I wonder if mine may be bad as well. I just discovered that my left upper balljoint is bad. If I lift the LF wheel off the ground I can grab the top and bottom of the tire and I have play in it. If I do this to the other side I get nothing. I also have a pop when I turn the wheels left or right.

 

[DThelen]

I ordered new out tie rod ends. Checked them out, same thing. Nothing to stop the twisting motion. I think the seals are suppose to keep it from twisting.

So I took the seal out of the passager side, seeing how this is the one with the long bar. I shimmed the joint so it would twist as much. I had to leave clearance so when the steering is turn it didn't bind. I think the steering improved. The steering wheel stays in one place more. I was thinking about tappered washer springs to take it all out. You would just have to keep it greesed well with no seals.