Sloppy Steering

[Flghtmstr1]

Hello steering/suspension experts,

I have a lot of slop in my steering, and I don't know much about steering systems so I don't know what to look for in determining how to fix it. The slop is significant, to the point where it feels like the wheels are deflecting slightly by themselves when I go over bumps. It's about an inch or so of travel in the steering, and this inch feels like there is no resistance in the wheel at all. The slop is there no matter whether the wheel is centered or not.

As far as I know, rack-and-pinion steering should not have any slop, so what could be causing this? My tie rods are in good shape as far as I know.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[AdRock]

Have the alignment checked.
Check the rack bushings
Check the rag joint in the steering shaft.
Double check the inner & outer tie rods.

If the alignment is correct and all the other stuff is nice and tight then it could be something major. But completely rule out the stuff above first.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

There is a bearing in the firewall that goes around your steering shaft. This is over looked many times. This was the cause of my sloppy steering!! The bearing cracked and fell outside of the holder and was riding loosly around the bottom of my shaft. I bought a new one at the dealership and I installed a new steering shaft as well. Car felt like new....no more play in steering wheel, and I could control the car around curves and corners.

 

[isjoining]

i have this problem as well, my car would jerk to one side when going over bumps on the highway.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

Yeah, at first I thought I needed a bump steer kit. My tie rods were up a little bit. But first I tracked down that bearing problem first. I got my car in the air and grabbed the steering shaft at the outside of the firewall. I could shake it and move it up and down about a 1/4". After the new bearing, I couldn't move it at all. After searching many cars in my yard, I bought a new one. Most the ones in my yard were all rusty and froze up.

 

[Flghtmstr1]

Thanks a lot guys; I'll check those potential trouble spots.

 

[Flghtmstr1]

I know I'm resurrecting this thread from the dead, but hey, it's my thread

Anyway, I wanted to let anyone who was interested know that a new Cobra steering shaft took out 100% of the slop. Surprisingly, the bearing in the firewall looked to be in great shape...

 

[GettinThere]

I know I'm resurrecting this thread from the dead, but hey, it's my thread

Anyway, I wanted to let anyone who was interested know that a new Cobra steering shaft took out 100% of the slop. Surprisingly, the bearing in the firewall looked to be in great shape...

Thank you for the update. Unfortunately, too often we never hear the rest of the story.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

I know I'm resurrecting this thread from the dead, but hey, it's my thread

Anyway, I wanted to let anyone who was interested know that a new Cobra steering shaft took out 100% of the slop. Surprisingly, the bearing in the firewall looked to be in great shape...

Good! I put the 03-04 Cobra shaft in my 96 Cobra. (Looked EXACTLY the same as mine) Blue Oval Industries sold it to me on Ebay for 34.95!!!! I bought it in a heartbeat. I'm glad you solved your problem. The bearing must have gone bad in mine because the front seal fell out. All the needle bearings were froze and rusty.