Steering play.

[Hoppo]

So I've been battling to get my new project driving right.

Long story short every bolt on the suspension is loose.

I've tighten everything up but I still have about 5-10mm of free play at the steering wheel. It's much worse around the dead ahead position.

So today I replaced the lower uj and it is a bit better but I'm now convinced it's in the rack.

Now I've tried to adjust the rack but the adjuster is in a pig of a spot and the centre is seized to the outer. So every time I try to move it ends up in the same spot.

So my question is can I completely remove the adjuster to free it off or will that cause me more problems?

[Bern]

I don't know about removing the adjuster, but I adjusted mine today and can do it really quickly!

I have:

17mm ratchet spanner (need to be flat or adjustable, not the angled ring spanner type).
17mm open ended spanner
10mm flat ratchet spanner
5mm (perhaps!!) hex bit with a 10mm drive.

First I remove the drivers side wheel

Then I undo the lock nut with the 17mm ratchet spanner.

I put the hex bit into the 10mm ratchet spanner and put a bit of tape on the other side so it can't fall through.

I then check that I can get the open ended spanner onto the lock nut.

Next I carefully get the hex bit (joined to the 10mm spanner) into the adjuster and then put the open ended 17mm back on the lock nut.

I can then adjust either spanner to alter the position of the adjuster relative to the lock nut.

Perhaps using this way you'll be able to shift it? It being tight I find makes it easier, but obviously if you can't shift it then that's too tight!

I then do the lock nut back up with the 17mm ratchet, because the adjuster is tight it turns with the lock nut as I do it up. So having set the new position while it was loose it does up how I want it!

It literally takes me 10 minutes!

I'm slowly tightening it, adjusting and then driving to see how it feels, and then adjusting again. Don't forget that as it's power steering there will always be a bit of play.

Maybe leave some plus gas or similar soaking in for a day or so first?

Hopefully that all makes sense. I'm adjusting again tomorrow, I'll take some photos.

[Saltire]

Hoppo: you might like to put your location in your profile. Click on User Control Panel at the top of the page, then Profile tab, then fill in the Location box. You never know, Bern might live just down the road from you

[Hoppo]

Done thanks

[Bern]

Yes, just down the road - 130 miles down the fosse way!

[Bern]

DSC_1022.JPG

5mm hex bit in 10mm ratchet spanner:

DSC_1023.JPG

Undoing the lock nut with the 17mm ratchet spanner:

DSC_1024.JPG

Adjusting the steering, using a 17mm open ended spanner because it's thinner than the ratchet and it's easier to get the hex bit in first and then put the 17mm on:

DSC_1026.JPG

[Hoppo]

Thanks for the pics I'll give your method a go tomorrow

[Simon_P]

Nice writeup Bern - thanks. Going to buy myself a set of ratchet spanners.

You should be able to remove the adjuster it is only a grub screw and locknut. But I guess it will be a real pain to put back. Try loosening it and then tightening the locknut to free it.

If it is worse straight ahead you may find it is too worn to adjust properly - adjustment instructions in the manual.

[dolmerob]

Glad I saw this thread. Need to adjust mine also.

[Hoppo]

Havnt been able to touch the car for a few weeks with the crap weather and work. Hopefully back on it next week