Steering wheel play?

[Andy Lynch]

Steering wheel play?
How much is acceptable before I need a rack refurbishment?
I have replaces the bulkhead bush and UJ’s
My steering wheel turns about 0.5 to 1” before it tightens up and moves the wheels.
Anybody had theirs done and who did it? How much? And did it take all the play out of the steering wheel?
Thanks
Andy

[orange_dodo]

Is it actually play? I ask because my steering always felt like it had about that much play before it firmed up but the wheels still moved. You could only really tell when the car was at speed though as rocking the wheel through the play caused a smooth gentle slalom. It turned out it was actually the bulkhead steering bearing that only had a few degrees of free movement before it seized and the steering suddenly firmed up. As soon as I replaced the bearing the steering felt much better without any 'play'.

If it is play it could just be your UJs though which are fairly cheap and easy to replace but I can't remember where you get them from. If its the steering rack you'll have to remove it and get it rebuilt.