Hello folks,

Been super happy with my Firebird but I have noticed since i purchased it, the steering wheel seems to have some play in it, no vibration or anything...just loose. I've lifted up the car and I saw what i think is the power steering gear box seems to have a minor leak. Someone mentioned the idler arm can cause this issue and that its common on third gens. What could this be? I know i need to buy new tires soon and I really want to get this fixed before i pull the trigger on some new Coopers and an alignment.

 

It could be the idler arm like u said. lol
Or also the rag joint, like everyone elses car it seems.
How many miles?

 

Is it slop in the actual steering, or slop in the tilt column? Because a sloppy tilt column is really really really common in later thirdgens. The pivot pins like to back out to varying degrees resulting in a really sloppy wheel.

 

Its in the actual steering. The vehicle has about 185k.

 

An idler arm, when bad, can cause the steering wheel jump back and forth by going over say railroad tracks. It will shake then come back to normal when on a smooth surface.
The rag joint is a common issue, especially when oil has been on it.
Look into swapping the lower steering shaft using a Jeep shaft, which has U-Joints.

 

So replaced the Idler arm and the steering does feel a little firmer, however its still got some play. I'm going to go ahead and replace the power steering box. Any suggestions on replacements?

 

Check the rag link swapping for an Astro van link is very popular search on here there are several threads on it.

 

Check the idler arm....but take a look at how much slack there is between the steering wheel and the pitman at the box. Everything starts to loosen up a little after some mileage. Mine ended up being the split subframe rail the box bolted to....had to weld in a reinforcement plate.

-Rich