My car has a bad dead spot in the steering. You can probably move the wheel about 1/2-1 inch either way before you can feel a responce. The car has new KONI yellow struts, Eibach springs, AGR steering box, u-joint steering shaft, and poly bushings. None of the front end components feel loose(I checked them with the car in the air on my lift at work). It was even worse before I replaced the steering box. I have heard that the GM steering boxxes have an engineered in "on center dead spot". Is this correct. If so is there some way to modfy it to be more precise. I seem to remember a company that did this but I can remember who it was. I am a BMW technician so I am used to super tight steering and that is what I want from my car. Has anyone had this problem caused by front end parts without them being noticeably worn? Has anyone driven a newer BMW and can tell me if my Camaros steering should be as precise? Thanks

 

what is the gear ratio on the AGR box?

 

12.7 to 1. Same as stock. Really I'm debating if I want to try a front end rebuild kit first or not. I don't want to spend $200+ on it if its not going to help any. Especially since none of the stuff on it seems to be loose. If thats just the way it is I'm probably going to try a DSE box or convert to rack and pinion. Does anyone have a Camaro with precise steering, or do they all suck?

 

If everything else is okay in the actual suspension.

I'm talking ball joints, bushings, tires, EVERYTHING.

U can adjust the steering box itself if its not too badly worn.

If u look in the manual it will show you.

Best advised it is best to do on a bench and/or rebuild it properly.

U can compensate for some minor wear however by making very small adjustments to just take the slack up.

Be forewarned, a red pubie hair too far and your car wont recenter the wheel without some real effort. So go very slowly

later
Jeremy

 

It is a brand new box so i figured it should be adjusted correctly from the factory. On my old box you could rotate the steering shaft by hand about 15 degrees + or - without the steering arm moving even after adjusting it as far as it would go. You cannot do this on the new box.

 

Bump for updates. I'm about to replace the stocker box and want to get rid of all play.

How does the AGR box feel? Any change in play with the car off/on?

I'm torn between the 600 series box and the AGR but don't want to buy one if it won't fix the problem. Rack and pinion is a dream for us unless you feel like fabbing the majority of it yourself.

 

i have the same problem, i can really move my wheel around before i feel any response and it sucks! on any quick motions at decent speed the car is nearly impossible to control. fast maneuvering cant really be done with that big of a dead spot.

i also was wonderin if that front end rebuild kit would help me

 

I had the exact same problem. About a half inch of play. Really annoyed me. What it turned out to be was some parts in the steering column (my mechanic said some rubber ***** or something...regardless, something in the steering column) was worn and made the play occur. Had it fixed. Now I have no play...don't know if it's as tight as a BMW, but I like it.

 

Ok, I brought my car into the shop today to do an oil change and I rechecked all of my steering components. Like I said before everything on my cars front end is new, but I figured I'd recheck it just in case. Again I found that there is nothing loose in my front end. I checked the box for looseness by rotating the steering shaft right before the box by hand and found that the play is in my brand new AGR box! Although it feels better than my stock box did. I tried adjusting in the screw on the cover as far in as it would go to set minimum lash and it helped some(but not much). This is the whole reason I replaced the stock box (I thought it was worn out) I heard that these boxxes have an engineered in "dead spot" so I guess its true. I remembered that a company called DSE (DETROIT SPEED & ENGINEERING) used to be able to modify these boxxes to eliminate that. I e-mailed them but they haven't written me back yet. They also sell 600 boxxes that are supposed to be nice and tight. I may try one of those if this one can't be fixxed. (they cost $600+ though) If that doesn't fix it then the only other choice I see is convert to rack and pinion or sell my car and buy something else. After working on BMW's for the last 3 years the one thing I can't stand is poor steering feel. I really wanted a back seat but if I have to buy a Corvette to get steering that doesn't totally suck on a Chevy then so be it. Needless to say don't get the AGR box.

 

theres a rag joint between the box and the steering shaft.

either replace it with a new one, or you can put a solid joint there.

that will get rid of most of the remaining flex.

 

My issue was close to yours and ,the centerlink was shot.

 

You may want to consider modifying a rack and pinion into your car. I plan on doing this with mine.

 

Yes they should drive as good as a BMW. My 1991 Z-28 did, and I know I've owned/been around BMW's for a long time. Look into setting the preload on the bearing from the back. I bought a rebuilt box for my Suburban and it was terrible until I did this.

 

What do you mean? I didn't know there was any adjustment other that the screw on top of the cover. How do you check the bearing preload?

 

Look in a GM service manual for the correct procedure. There is a large lock plate right in front of the coupler. Loosen it spin the large collar in until you get the desired effect. Then you can adjust the on center with the allen set screw on top. You should back off the allen screw all the way first and then in one turn. Then you can adjust the bearing preload. Then the on center feel with the allen screw...............It take a few trial and error adjustments to get it right. They say to take it off and drain it. Then adjust it........I did mine on the vehicle without draining it.......works great!