[zuk85]

ok pretty sure most sierra's have the freeplay problem in there steering?? can be pretty scary in my beast on the hwy.

was looking at the steering arm where it joins just before the steering box. it is bolted together with a rubber pad used to join them both. i have noticed on mine they are using the actual rubber pad to steer the points where the bolts come through are opposite each other.

is anyone elses like this?? would lining the steering arms up between the rubber pad eliminate the freeplay? or even machining up a alloy plate to replace the rubber

[eldo]

im pretty sure it is like that as its a colapsable steering column, it is supposed to be like that

[Shaggy]

I am guessing you are talking about the "Rag Joint"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rag_joint
Most older cars have these and are designed to take into account slight differences in angles of steering components.
I have also heard they are also designed to shear off in an accident to try and protect the driver (no idea if this is true but it sounds resonable)
I have recently done a body lift and was supplied a new "Rag Joint" Is doing some crazy angles but still works as intended.
As long as yours isn't flogged out etc I wouldn't expect it to be the freeplay problem.
Cheers
Jason.

[zuk85]

from wiki
An older vehicle with loose steering or "play in the steering wheel" is often found to have a worn out rag joint. One can reach inside the cab and wiggle the steering wheel while watching the rag joint move without the input shaft moving, this is unnacceptable and needs to be replaced.

just checked and yeap this is whats the problem. hrmm will look around for a new rag joint wont go the alloy shim the rubber reduces vibrations

[ninjadaniel]

i have a spare rag joint if you need it, just pm me. You can undo the locking nut on top of the steering box and tighten the screw to adjust freeplay, to do this you will want the steering arm out of the way (ragjoint undone), front on stands and wheels off. This gives you the best possible feel for the steering.

Tighten the screw whilst turning the input shaft back and forward, what SHOULD happen is that it will get tight when it is in its center, once you have managed to make this occur, you have successfully tightened the screw too much- back it off a bit then lock it down using the nut. DONE!

[ninjadaniel]

also extended shackles exaggerate the steering wobble significantly, especially on the highway.

My car was set perfectly until i put shackles on and it all turned to poo.

[laurie]

have you tried to adjust your freeplay out of your steering box.
put front end on stands turn steering wheel check play.
loosen nut on top of steering box tighten screw in the middle of the nut to eliminate play turn back a touch and tighten nut.

[want33s]

I'll bring a joint on saturday arvo mate.. I'll show you how to nip up the box too.

[ajsr]

ninjadaniel wrote:

also extended shackles exaggerate the steering wobble significantly, especially on the highway.

My car was set perfectly until i put shackles on and it all turned to poo.

A big part of the problem there is you are fucking up you castor with ext shackles. try getting the castor checked or putting in some castor wedges to sure up the steering feel particularly at highway speeds

[BlueSuzy]

I have no rag joint with my vit ps, It just a 8m plate adaptor for a uni.

You get little bumps through the wheel, but nothing major. Only off road also.

The colapsable steering column, is the actual shaft. only 89?+ models have these for higher ruleing safety reasons. My 88' is solid. My 91' is colapsable.

[Gwagensteve]

laurie wrote:

have you tried to adjust your freeplay out of your steering box.
put front end on stands turn steering wheel check play.
loosen nut on top of steering box tighten screw in the middle of the nut to eliminate play turn back a touch and tighten nut.

Not everyone is aware that the steering boxes actually require some preload to be tight enough. I wasn't aware of this until the other day when I checked adjustment specs in the FSM.

With no steering shaft attached and no drag link installed, there should be about 0.8lb/f or 3.5kg of drag if you use a pull scale on the input shaft

That's MILES tighter than most people would assume.

Steve.