Play in the steering

[DJR 7]

Now that I'm settling with my project car I've noticed that there seems to be considerable play in the steering.
By this I mean with the vehicle stationary I can move the steering wheel 10mm or so in either direction before the road wheels move.
This has an effect when trying to keep the car straight at speed.
Whilst at my local meet on Thursday night I tried a Tuscan, T350 and a Tamora and all 3 had the same amount of play, the Cerbera however was immediate.
My question is two fold, has anyone else noticed this on there particular car? And secondly has anyone addressed the problem?
Is it a steering column or steering rack issue?
I really would appreciate feedback as I want to find a resolve, I'm sure the car would feel a lot more planted if solved.
Thanks in advance
Darren

[pmessling]

Same with my cerb about 10 mm. You can adjust a certain amount out on the steering box by adjusting the pinion down pressure. However go to much and locks the steering up. It's either worn pinion or rack.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

There shouldn't be any play at all.

I had this issue shortly after the top and bottom U/Js were replaced - turned out a bolt hadn't tightened properly. I didn't ask any further questions about what the consequences might have been!

So it isn't necessarily the rack.

But get it looked into; don't simply accept it as "normal", because it definitely isn't.

[77racing]

pmessling said:

It's either worn pinion or rack.

Why can't it just be the £15 Tie rod ends ?

[DJR 7]

77racing said:

pmessling said:

It's either worn pinion or rack.

Why can't it just be the £15 Tie rod ends ?

I guess it could be but I've had mine replaced during the rebuild.
The rack and the column are original so I'll have those checked, it daunting at high speed as I find myself correcting the steering constantly and it takes the enjoyment out of a spirited drive.
D

[Basil Brush]

I went through the whole steering system on my Tuscan at about 50k miles as the play had built up over time. I ended up replacing the rack, as it had play in the pinion valve assembly where the torsion bar is held, the column, as there was play in the top nylon ball joint where the steering wheel angle adjusts, and the sliding coupling on the bottom of the column in the footwell. The coupling is a known weak point in Vectras for causing play and knocking.

[DJR 7]

Marcus I assume this has now resolved the play?
How different is it to drive?
D

[Basil Brush]

Yes it made a massive difference and is now much better on bumpy roads. Because the play had built up gradually over the many years I've had the car I hadn't really realised how bad it had become.

[DJR 7]

Thanks for that Marcus,
I'll try the same route, appreciate your input.
D

[Basil Brush]

No worries. I hope it's something simple as the rack is a bh to get out.

[Englishman]

Can't remember which car, but it had these symptoms.

I got someone to sit in the car and move the steering slightly while I traced where the movement stopped. Turned out to be a bolt on the U/J in the wheel arch not fully tight.

Don't let anyone tell you they are all like that - there shouldn't be any play at all.

[zed4]

Englishman said:

Can't remember which car, but it had these symptoms.

I got someone to sit in the car and move the steering slightly while I traced where the movement stopped. Turned out to be a bolt on the U/J in the wheel arch not fully tight.

Don't let anyone tell you they are all like that - there shouldn't be any play at all.

Mine too. I hadn't tightened the pinch bolt on the UJ properly. They need to be pretty tight.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Yep - that's exactly what it was on mine. Pinch bolt hadn't tightened up enough.