CGMorrison

In the middle of replacing my front end I discovered the source of most of my steering wheel wiggle. I'm not sure what it's called but it's the rod connecting the steering wheel to the steering box I believe. How would I go about correcting this?

CGMorrison

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The connection circled in red is where it wiggles before it actually turns the wheels.

actarnoff

iTrader: (1)

If you look at where the steering box is mounted, you'll see that it's actually cracked. Your whole steering box is moving when you turn, causing the play. You need to have that fixed ASAP, and don't drive the car until you do.

SlickTrackGod

You need a new rag joint. Here is an example of a GM shaft on youtube with a worn rag joint.

You drill out the factory rivets to remove the OEM unit, and replace it with the new supplied bolts that come in the new rag joint kit.

actarnoff

iTrader: (1)

That isn't the case on his car; if you look above the K member bracket, the section of the frame where the box is bolted in is cracked and separating. He doesn't need a rag joint, he needs to repair that frame.

SlickTrackGod

Re read his statement. he said he put a red circle around the part that is wiggling- That my friend IS the rag joint

actarnoff

iTrader: (1)

Then he has two problems.

SlickTrackGod

yes, but you just told him he does not need a rag joint when he does.

actarnoff

iTrader: (1)

To be fair, that's not going to matter much when his steering box pulls out of the frame horn.

SlickTrackGod

You did a great job in seeing the crack in the frame- and should have stated to him to also check that. What you did is told him he DID NOT need a rag joint. I simply showed him a like to fix the problem he asked about since you already addressed the frame crack. I then corrected you because you stated very clearly that he did NOT need a rag joint.

I think the points are all clear now. Good day

CGMorrison

Thank you for pointing out the crack. I checked it out and it has a Spohn wonderbar on it. I'm going to get the crack fixed in the next few days, though. The rag joint was wiggling, so I'll probably fix that next to see if it fixes the play.

CGMorrison

So would the best way to fix the crack be to drill out the ends, V out the crack and weld it then weld something over it to reinforce it?

SlickTrackGod

I'd just recommend welding it up, then grinding down any weld area that may prevent the steering box form sitting in it's current position- then most importantly add a wonderbar to help prevent it from happening again in the future.

You just want to make sure not to plate the frame area so as to alter the mount surface of the box bringing it towards the right in the chassis- this would alter the steering geometry.

CGMorrison

Cool beans. Thanks for the help, guys.

CGMorrison

I fixed the crack and replaced the worn out rag joint. The steering wheel still has play in it before I can see anything under the hood moving. Any suggestions?

SlickTrackGod

Wiggle in steering? or wiggle in steering column? THe only thing that would wiggle that does not turn is the tilt column assembly. When you say "wiggle", are you talking about steering slop or are you talking about the entire coulmn moving inside the car?

Maybe you ment this all along-
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...-steering.html

CGMorrison

It's not the column. The steering wheel turns left or right a bit before it affects anything.

3rdgenmaro

iTrader: (9)

crawl underneath it and look while you have someone "wiggle" the steering wheel.

Probably play in the box.

SlickTrackGod

Then check the bolt inside the wngine bay that couples you upper D-column connection. Its close to where the steering shaft comes out of the firewall. That is the only other potential slop point (rare it would slop here) in the shaft assembly prior to the pag joint. Either that is loose or you have a broken tilt pivot internally inside the column which is not serviceable.

I have broken GM steering columns, but I have never seen an actually coulmn internal tilt pivot break or become loose- its alot like a boregeson joint or u-joint- its solid. I can only think at this point your steering shaft inside the engine bay was not tight and at some point your 'D" slip joint elongated and developed slop there where it bolts the shaft enigne bay shaft to the column shaft

TreeFiddy

Also check the rivets that hold the steering wheel itself onto the boss. Mine had worn loose over time, and accounted for a bit of play as the wheel rotated before moving the column.

CGMorrison

It's somewhere before the box. I'll have to check the rest out in a couple days after moving. Finally getting a two car garage. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll let you know what I find out.

Orochimaru

check to see if your triangle braces on the front cross-member are secure and tight.