Steering issue : 83 SC

[Deschodt]

My car seems to be developing a new thing to keep me amused, and poor: the steering seems to "stick" a little bit in the dead ahead position, at speed only.

In other words, if you turn at speed (70+) it's notchy to get off center, then returns to normal. It's minute, but I know my car very well and that is new. Doesn't do it at lower speeds or on the lift.

What do you think, a sticky bearing somewhere on the column or a dying rack ? It's not bad yet, just odd. And obviously I cannot experiement too much with big turns at 70-80 mph. Seems to happen after I've been going straight for a few minutes (fwy) and want to change lane or something. Would a bum alignment do this all of a sudden ?

[jorian]

I had this issue in my Carrera. It started out as sticking and then a delayed turn in. My steering rack was toast. I bought a remanufactured one.

[Deschodt]

Hmm... Doesn't sound like I should wait too long then, I don't want to mess around with steering issues ! Thanks !

[burgermeister]

Pretty late with a reply I am .... I had a similar issue on an 88 Carrera I just bought (June 2007). I removed the little access plate on the rear of the rack, keeping careful track of the spring and shims that fall out. Some finangling removed a piston-like rubbing block from the rack. Everything behind it was dry. I packed the cavity with wheel bearing grease and ran the rack back and forth while pressing the piston in by hand, and repeated the process a few times. Steering is butter smooth again. Some time next year I plan to take the rack out and re-grease it properly - I'm sure the pinion is dry also, and I could not get to it throught the access panels.

[mike635]

I had a similar problem with my '81SC. I solved the problem by lubricating the steering shaft universal joint in the smuggler's box. Might be worth a try?

mike

[RWebb]

What did you do to lube the U-joint? Did you need to disassemble it in some way?

[mike635]

All I did (didn't have any tools handy at the time) was drip some motor oil over the joint area. Crude, but effective. To do it properly, I suspect it's supposed to be taken apart and greased. I was just trying to see if this had an effect and it cured the problem.

I would imagine if you got in there with some grease and then ran the steering back and forth a few times to distribute it, it might do the trick.

mike

[RWebb]

Thx - think I'll do that - or use spray grease - as a preventative.