Steering Problem
 

I have a 79 930 and am now starting to feel some slight binding in the steering. For example, slight turns in the road cause the steering to bind a bit which causes me to over-correct. Its a little distracting with two way traffic.

Has anyone had this happen? If so, how did you diagnose it? Could it be the rack and pinion or the steering shaft (with all of it's u-joints)?

Thanks in advance
Don

Tough to diagnose up on stands. The best way is to remove the torsion bars and then raise the wheels on rotating plates like on an alignment rack. Then you can turn the wheel and examine all the components free of tension and in the ride position.

I think I'd take this problem to an alignment expert. With the R and R of the bars, you could also get a corner balance out of the deal, as well as a new alignment. It may not be as tough of a problem as I make it out to be, but with steering, I want to be sure.

BTW, this is the same procedure used to bump steer a car. If your guy is tops, you'll get it all.

I've had the lower steering shaft U-joint bind. Try some WD40 and motor oil on it.

I've also had the steering rack bind. If you remove the big steel plate underneath the rack & fuel pump, you can take one of the rack cover plates off (careful - there are shims, a spring, and a puck in there, and you need to keep track of them all) and see what the state of lubrication is inside the rack.

If it's all dry & crumbly, you can try to lube the puck, and maybe remove the tie rod boots to try to get some grease on the rack teeth, but you're probably better off taking the rack out & apart and greasing everything properly. Tim Hancock has a great thread on the subject, as well as part numbers for the bearings in the rack.

Also check the rubber donut which supports the steering shafts in the heater box area, they have a needle bearing in them that can fall apart which can cause the shafts to not align and bind sometimes.

Thanks very much.

Wow did this make a difference. It's a different car now - thanks again.