Dragons91RS

I had alot of play in my steering wheel and most of it was at the steering gear box so I replaced it yesterday. sad thing is Im having some problems now.
at first my steering wheel would not center, came out to be with the new gear box the drivers side tire was badly out of alignment. how that happened I dont know, so today I adjusted the tierod for that wheel and got it pretty close to dead straight, and my steering wheel is now centered.
next problem was the new gear box was adjusted to tighly, so bad that the car could not be driven above 30mph or Id loose control, so I loosened the adjuster on it. the car is now driveable, and the steering feels very loose and is easy to turn, but my steering will not center back out after a turn, which ever way I turn the steering wheel is the way the car goes untill I move the steering wheel in another direction. Im afraid the steering will be to loose if I adjust the bolt on the gear box any more.
does anyone know of any thing else that could be the problem or what I could try to fix this?

Dragons91RS

no body has any idea of why my steering will not center back out ?

EvilCartman

iTrader: (1)

Maybe have an alignment job done?

Dragons91RS

sadly I dont think an alignment is the problem, and if it is Im screwed because no shop will touch my car for an alignment have a few bad steering parts.

I was looking at the papers that came with the new gear box and they have a trouble shooting chart.

there are three possabilitys for poor/no steering return. two I can elimenate but one I dont fully under stand.
it says column coupling "bottomed" . what exactly does that meen? there is nothing there for the steering column to bottom or rub on?

RB83L69

Start there. Quit messing with a brand-new expensive thing that used to be correctly built and adjusted (one would think) to create a work-around for other broken stuff. Put the adjustment back like it belongs and repair the rest of the car and get it right, then go from there.

"Column coupling bottomed" means that the steering column isn't assembled correctly, and it's smashed against the worm shaft, and has the whole column in a bind. Check to make sure it's all free to move like it's supposed to.

Dragons91RS

One thing is I do not believe the new gear box was adjusted correctly. it was very hard to turn the wheel with it, and it had no return.

what leads me to believe there may be a problem with the new box is every thing worked fine and as it should b4 the new gear box(with the exception of about 5in of play in the steering wheel). the new gear box has elminated 1/2 the play that was in the steering, but it now has this new problem that was not present with the old one.

honestly after working on the car every day since saturday I now wish I had just said screw it and continued to live with the play in the steering wheel, but its to late for that now. Im broke and need my car to work

T/A gets T&A

I'll agree with RB, it's not good to screw around with already worn or broken parts. DON'T screw with the adjustment bolt on the box anymore! If your wheel isn't centering while turning, that screw may be too tight. If you keep driving it, you'll fry your brand new box and then you'll really be pissed.

And idler arm isn't really that much, nor are tie rods. Both of those could very well be a contributor to your problem. When is the last time you lubed the bushings? Did you look at your rag joint? Mine was bad in my '84 causing all kinds of play. I replaced it for around $10 with a new one from NAPA. Just a little bit of grinding involved to take out the rivets holding in the original joint.

I say lubricate everything, and take it to someone who specializes in suspension.

Tlegasse

iTrader: (1)

That just sounds like you still have your adjuster screw too tight.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Hopefully, in the more than 8 years since he posted this, he got it figured out, without hurting anybody.

You have your forum view settings set to show oldest first or something. Check your preferences.

And always check the dates on posts you respond to, to see if it makes sense to do so.

naf

iTrader: (7)

Hopefully he's fixed it by now

Tlegasse

iTrader: (1)

Haha my bad. Wonder if that guy still has a third gen.

jtsherrod

I have a similar problem.. i had alot of play in my sterring wheel. and my steering wheel wont center >.. i replaced all my sterring parts from wheel to wheel... tie rod to tie rod with the execption of the pitman arm... MOST of the play in the wheel stopped but something still wasnt right. Turns out right where the steering box is mounted there is a fracture in my frame and the frame was twisting abuot 2in when i would turn... blahhh

naf

iTrader: (7)

You can get it welded and fixed fine.

To help strengthen this area you can install a wonderbar or equivalent aftermarket piece.

If your vehicle doesn't have the two triangular braces between the k-member and the frame you can pick them up from the JY and bolt them right in. My 84 did not have them and experienced similar cracking and repair sometime in its past.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

That's actually SUPER common in these cars. You're not alone.

jtsherrod

thanks man thats exactly what i needed to know. i put a through bolt through it to hold it real snug while we weld it and then ill prob end up getting both of those parts since mine is busted... it makes since the irocz needed them but my little 2.8 bending my frame makes me sad lol.. thanks again