steering loose

GotaT · 07-02-2007, 11:54 AM

71 911t.

Since Ive owned my car i have noticed some Slack in the steering wheel from turning Left to Right and visa versa.

I replaced the Knuckle under the hood and still the problem persists.. It is appearing that the steering rack IS MOVING a bit from side to side.. Every see this? ?

Or any other ideas related to steering slack as described?

jbrand540 · 07-02-2007, 02:11 PM

Are you sure that that slack is not up by the steering wheel? There is a plastic bushing that can wear out. A good way to test this is to grab the wheel and see if you can move it up and down at all.

Pelican has a quick fix bushing for this that is made of metal. You simply hammer it into the old plastic one.

Have you checked to make sure that the bolts to your steering rack and suspension compnonents are all tight?

jbrand540 · 07-02-2007, 02:59 PM

Sorry, just noticed yours is a 71, I read it 74 for some reason. I don't think the bearing fix is applicable to your year.

If you lift the front of the car and grab the steering shaft at different points, turning the wheel by twisting th shaft by hand you shoul dbe able to narrow down where the looseness exists, upper, lower, etc. At least that way you aren't waisitng your time in the wrong areas.

THe steering couple in the below diagram can cause a few annoyances in the steering as it is a piece of rubber that does wear down over time. Mine recently started going bad but caused a pop in my steering as well as looseness. I am refferring to #20 in the photo below. To get to this you really need to drop the entire rack out of the car so better to isolate it to lower shaft and steering rack first.

C4 Pazzo · 07-02-2007, 03:07 PM

You might check to make sure you have the spring underneath the steering hub, and that the small metal bushing is not upside down. If the bushing is on upside down, you'll get some slop in the steering. If this is the problem, it's a very quick and easy fix.

See HarryD's post in this thread for the correct orientation:
What am I Missing - Steering Column

Superman · 07-02-2007, 03:12 PM

Your steering rack is moving?!!!! It should NOT move. I would raise the front of the car and place it on jackstands, and then fiddle with the wheels. See if there is any play and if there is, where is it coming from. Check to make sure your steering rack is bolted securely to your crossmember. If it is, and if there is no play at the tie rod ends, ball joints, bearings, etc, then investigate the steering column.

GotaT · 07-02-2007, 03:57 PM

I appreciate all the input.. first off. my car wont accomadate the quick fix for the upper movement on the steering wheel with a bushing insert.. However, that is a problem on my car, it is not what I am referring to. that causes movement up and down, possibly side to side but not slack in Turning motion side to side. I do think we are all on the same page though.
Seemed to me that the slack was from below the knuckle, in which case it may be the rubber bushing. .. I'll also check for the spring .. I dont seem to remember there ever being a spring.. What does this spring do?

Thanks