Steering Question

[Grady]

Haven't noticed any steering issues but do have a definite vibration though the steering wheel at highway speed. While I had the car (86 280i no PAS) jacked, I wiggled the front wheel. No play up/down but lots of play (1/4"-3/8"?) fore and aft. Seems to be coming from the steering rack.

Is there any adjustment to take out slack or is the rack bad? Thanks Grady

[Jack Valiant]

Are you sure that it's the rack? Put a good sized pry bar into the track rod end joints and see if there is play, if you can put a bit of weight onto the wheels when your moving the steering you should be able to see what's going on. It could be the rack but try to eliminate all the other joints in the steering system first. Do not forget to check the anti roll bar bushes and tighten up the U bolt / clamps. Finally have a good look at the bulkhead steering column bush.

Chris

Edited by Jack Valiant on Saturday 28th April 19:53

[ihouston]

Would think your problem highly unlikely to be top and bottom joints if the movement is fore and arft - the movement would be top and bottom if it was these joints - would think it most probably Steering rack - was on mine - not adjustable on mine got a recon rack for about £35 - so quite cheap fix

[Grady]

Lifted the other front wheel and the same thing. Nothing top-bottom but the same wiggle/slop directly into the rack. The rack is tight to the frame and while some of the bushings could be replaced, nothing else flexes.

[Grady]

ihouston said:

...got a recon rack for about £35 - so quite cheap fix

May be a little harder to find one here. I'll call around next week but do you remember who you ordered yours from - and the part number would be a big help too. Thanks Grady

[adam quantrill]

The steering rack is unlikely to cause wobble.

When you do your test on the front wheel are you checking if the steering wheel is moving?

If in doubt get it on the steering lock. If the steering wheel moves that's where your movement is going.

The wobble could well be an unbalanced wheel - lost wheel weight - pressures wrong - etc...

[ihouston]

Grady
I got my rack on EBay - its off a cortina MK1V if I recall correctly - it was quite a while back now so I do not have details on part numbers etc sorry about that.
I take it from your post that you are moving the wheel from side to side and seeing movement into the rack - this is what happened to mine - you could take the gaitors off and see if your rack has any adjustment on it - sometimes they are shimmed I think ( mine was not) or perhaps tightening up the retaining nut may take some play out.
Sorry could not help more with the part number.
Cheers
Ian