[adrock82]

Hi guys,

First time poster, although I have been reading stuff in here for quite a while.
I've wanted a Sierra since I was about 20 (so 15 years), but working overseas etc has made it a bit hard. Finally back in Aus and decided to do it so I'm the proud new owner of an '89 model (SJ413?).

Anyway, totally loving it, but obviously with an almost 30-year-old car some stuff will start coming up so just hoping to see if anyone recognises this as a common Sierra issue.

The main issue I have right now is a fair bit of play in the steering. More pronounced turning left than right (but still noticeable both sides).
I probably have 4-5 inches of turning the wheel before I can feel the car grab and start turning. Not a huge deal cruising around town but at 90-100km/h it feels a bit like drifting if there is a bend in the highway.

I'm not too advanced mechanically beyond normal maintenance but realise there can be a few points causing this, I guess I'm just wondering if this is a common theme in this model and if so, is it usually a common part of the steering that is causing it?

Cheers guys, and good to be part of the crew finally!

-Adam

[Kor3y101]

It's the steering box mate. 90% of them are flogged to buggery, best bet is track down a replacement and checkhow much play it has before parting with your cash.

[bumstein]

Hi Adam!!

The steering box gets flogged out. That's most likely the biggest cause of excessive play.

You can tighten them by undoing the locknut on the top and turning the flat head screw clockwise. By doing this your going to make the steering much tighter on left and right turns but 'less loose' in the middle. Might be ok to get you by for a bit however best off buying a new one for around 400 clams.

Also check your tie rod ends and steering linkages for play.

Shitty steering can also come from king pin bearings. Think about giving them some attention at some point.

[losfer]

Bumstein not bad advice but i wouldnt be just tightening down the adjusting screw. people who are not mechanically minded will just tighten it down as hard as they can and this will destroy the steering box very fast.
Ideally to adjust it if it does need adjusting , you need to centre the steering. Remove the drag link from the steering box , then adjust the adjusting screw while wobbling the pitman arm side to side until you feel no play.

Most of the time the steering box , due to its age and design is not adjustable to remove all play . Where the shaft that the pitman arm attaches to exits the steering box there is a phosphor bronze bush inside and this bush wears also the shaft wears , this is not economically repairable. if you lay under the vehicle and look at the shaft while someone operates the steering wheel from left to right you will see the shaft wiggle from side to side. in more severe cases you can actually see oil leaking out the bottom of the seal its not because the seal is damaged its because theres just too much wear there .

I can do new steering boxes for $300 considering most wreckers sell second hand steering boxes that are 25 years old for up to $200 its not a bad price.

[jdk81]

Flogged out suspension bushes wont help your steering either.

If you need a new steeringbox and if you were thinking about power steering, a jimny p/steer box will bolt in nicely.

[alien]

I very reluctantly put a new box in mine at the start of this year and it was the best thing i've done to it recently. Drives so much better and requires far less concentration now!

[adrock82]

Ok sounds like everyone is pretty much in agreeance on this one.... I'll jump under tonight to see if there is anything noticeably wrong, (leaks, tie rod ends, etc) otherwise the steering box might be at the top of the shopping list.

[bumstein]

losfer wrote:

Bumstein not bad advice but i wouldnt be just tightening down the adjusting screw. people who are not mechanically minded will just tighten it down as hard as they can and this will destroy the steering box very fast.

Too true!!! I consider it a temporary measure to get you by for a wee bit. Subtle adjustment is important.

300 clams is great for a new one!! Where do they come from?

[adrock82]

Ok had a crawl around and all the joints look and feel ok...
There is a fair bit of gunk caked up around where the shaft enters the steering box though.

[bumstein]

Steering box is flogged out

[adrock82]

Where are you losfer? I just got quoted $450 on the gold coast

[Gwagensteve]

losfer wrote:

wobbling the pitman arm side to side until you feel no play.

Which is nowhere near tight enough.

I can't recall the spec for starting torque at the input to the steering box, but it's surprisingly high.

It's my opinion that setting them too loose significantly increases wear as your'e always nudging left and right against the wear points whilst your driving, which quickly increases the worn area.

In all honesty by the time there is noticeable play in the steering box it's probably unable to be adjusted out effectively - it will go too tight off centre. I reckon that after about 10 years of age they should be adjusted to spec annually - they'd probably last forever if this was done.


Steve.