How much play is normal in a ws6 box?

I had an alignment done, then a week later I bought new sticky directional tires.

Now, going down the road the car will wander in one direction, left or right. When I correct it, it will start wandering the other way, and so on. I've got almost 60 degrees of play in the steering wheel.

I don't have a rag joint, I have a astro shaft. The play is in the box.



-- Joe

 

I would expect sloppy steering to be sloppy everywhere. Like a Chrysler Cordoba. Wandering sounds more like an alignment problem.

 

Everything is new, other than the box, and I just had it aligned at a good shop.

 

Normal compared to what? Brand new or most of the shitboxes rolling around still? There should be no play in a box, mine with 70k miles has zero play in it at all. Rebuild it yourself if it's a quick ratio box, it's easy. Most re-manufactured from auto parts stores are not, even if they say they are. I've heard a lot of horror stories about the expensive boxes from "high end" brands too.

 

So I tightened the backlash as much a possible, and it's still got a ton of slop in it. The pitman arm doesn't even think about moving.

 

Swapped the box and its all set.i checked the other one on the bench, I think the gears are chipped or something. It turns a significant amount before the pitman arm moves.

-- Joe