Steering wheel play - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Gjohnson7 · 05-11-2010, 07:27 PM

Ok, I'm trying to figure out what could be causing all the play in my steering wheel and I'm no expert in this area by any means. So here's what I've got.
1997 LS swapped Kouki, the car sat for 4 to 5 years before I found it at a local dealership so I have no idea what rotted away. I also never drove the car before the swap so I have no insight there either. After first inspection I noticed the tie rods where in bad shape, so I replaced the inner and outter tie rods with Moog replacements. No change.
One thing I noticed when I changed the steering rack boots was the steering rack seems to be leaking from the driverside, but would that cause the play.

What else should I inspect or try?? Thanks

yarou · 05-11-2010, 08:09 PM

steering rack bushings

Gjohnson7 · 05-11-2010, 08:27 PM

These bad boys here...

ENERGY SUSPENSION STEERING RACK BUSHINGS 240SX 300ZX : eBay Motors (item 290431862759 end time Jun-02-10 19:51:28 PDT)

These actually go around the steering shaft right?? Not the Rack and Pinion?

Gjohnson7 · 05-11-2010, 08:30 PM

Or would it be better to pick up something like this?

STANCE steering bushing 240sx, C33, skyline, S13 : eBay Motors (item 370377345729 end time May-17-10 08:01:23 PDT)

Or do I need both?

Gjohnson7 · 05-11-2010, 08:42 PM

Ok, it looks like the S14 doesn't need the last aluminum bushing, so I guess that answers that question.

So, are the bushings most like the culprit?
The rack and pinion wouldn't cause issues like this???

Sterlz · 05-11-2010, 09:42 PM

Maybe an alignment?

sincity_sil80 · 05-11-2010, 09:52 PM

i would just say replace them anyway.. it couldnt hurt right? plus they're probably old and worn

Gjohnson7 · 05-11-2010, 09:53 PM

I guess I need to try that too!

I've been trying to read throught the FSM as well about the excessive play as well as my SRS light blinking at all times and it seems that the 2 may be related. Apparently excessive play in the steering wheel can cause issues with the air bag system. I really need to get this figured out.

Gjohnson7 · 05-11-2010, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sincity_sil80

i would just say replace them anyway.. it couldnt hurt right? plus they're probably old and worn

Yeah, I plan on replacing them at some point anyway, I'm just trying to do as much testing as possible and trying not to throw money at the issue considering my budget and 3 kids.

ajbrain · 05-12-2010, 09:33 AM

check all the arms to see if they are loose especially lower control arm. jack up your car. hope it helps.

rage · 05-12-2010, 01:05 PM

jack up car, inspect rack bushings

*slider2828* · 05-12-2010, 01:32 PM

Look for steering wheel shimmy under search... I would check the subframe as well as those racks.... lift the front of the car and turn the motor on. Turn it lock to lock and check if hte rack is moving.

[email protected] · 05-13-2010, 10:32 AM

It sounds like the rack and pinion needs a rebuild to me. When seals go bad etc. there is play in the steering, although it doesn't hurt to replace those bushings, hope this helps!

[email protected]

Gjohnson7 · 05-13-2010, 06:20 PM

Is there a rebuild kit for the rack and pinion or do you just have to buy a new one?

*slider2828* · 05-13-2010, 07:58 PM

go get a remanufactured one... without correct tools the rack is pretty hard to rebuild if it has center play... Not something you wanna mess with...

Forge_55b · 05-13-2010, 09:04 PM

just replace the rack and pinion cause yours is toast, but no idea why that would happen just standing still for a long time.......unless it was always like that

[email protected] · 05-14-2010, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gjohnson7

Is there a rebuild kit for the rack and pinion or do you just have to buy a new one?

I would find a local shop to rebuild it for you, new rack and pinion systems are too expensive! Good luck!

[email protected]

05-11-2010, 07:27 PM	#1
Gjohnson7 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Age: 40 Posts: 980 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	Steering wheel play Ok, I'm trying to figure out what could be causing all the play in my steering wheel and I'm no expert in this area by any means. So here's what I've got. 1997 LS swapped Kouki, the car sat for 4 to 5 years before I found it at a local dealership so I have no idea what rotted away. I also never drove the car before the swap so I have no insight there either. After first inspection I noticed the tie rods where in bad shape, so I replaced the inner and outter tie rods with Moog replacements. No change. One thing I noticed when I changed the steering rack boots was the steering rack seems to be leaking from the driverside, but would that cause the play. What else should I inspect or try?? Thanks __________________ LSX Kouki Project, swap completed in Dec 09

05-11-2010, 08:09 PM	#2
yarou Zilvia Addict Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 661 Trader Rating: (8) Feedback Score: 8 reviews	steering rack bushings __________________ jumbosandbox.blogspot.com

05-11-2010, 08:27 PM	#3
Gjohnson7 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Age: 40 Posts: 980 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	These bad boys here... ENERGY SUSPENSION STEERING RACK BUSHINGS 240SX 300ZX : eBay Motors (item 290431862759 end time Jun-02-10 19:51:28 PDT) These actually go around the steering shaft right?? Not the Rack and Pinion? __________________ LSX Kouki Project, swap completed in Dec 09

05-11-2010, 08:30 PM	#4
Gjohnson7 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Age: 40 Posts: 980 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	Or would it be better to pick up something like this? STANCE steering bushing 240sx, C33, skyline, S13 : eBay Motors (item 370377345729 end time May-17-10 08:01:23 PDT) Or do I need both? __________________ LSX Kouki Project, swap completed in Dec 09

05-11-2010, 08:42 PM	#5
Gjohnson7 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Age: 40 Posts: 980 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	Ok, it looks like the S14 doesn't need the last aluminum bushing, so I guess that answers that question. So, are the bushings most like the culprit? The rack and pinion wouldn't cause issues like this??? __________________ LSX Kouki Project, swap completed in Dec 09

05-11-2010, 09:42 PM	#6
Sterlz Zilvia Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: the land where everybody gets it all wrong Posts: 172 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Maybe an alignment?

05-11-2010, 09:52 PM	#7
sincity_sil80 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: las vegas Age: 31 Posts: 440 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	i would just say replace them anyway.. it couldnt hurt right? plus they're probably old and worn __________________ 20 till 3:00 = ღ

05-11-2010, 09:53 PM	#8
Gjohnson7 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Age: 40 Posts: 980 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	I guess I need to try that too! I've been trying to read throught the FSM as well about the excessive play as well as my SRS light blinking at all times and it seems that the 2 may be related. Apparently excessive play in the steering wheel can cause issues with the air bag system. I really need to get this figured out. __________________ LSX Kouki Project, swap completed in Dec 09

05-12-2010, 09:33 AM	#10
ajbrain Zilvia Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: alhambra, california Age: 32 Posts: 153 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	check all the arms to see if they are loose especially lower control arm. jack up your car. hope it helps.

05-12-2010, 01:05 PM	#11
rage Leaky Injector Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: houston, tx Age: 35 Posts: 91 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	jack up car, inspect rack bushings

05-12-2010, 01:32 PM	#12
slider2828 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,824 Trader Rating: (13) Feedback Score: 13 reviews	Look for steering wheel shimmy under search... I would check the subframe as well as those racks.... lift the front of the car and turn the motor on. Turn it lock to lock and check if hte rack is moving. __________________ Turn and Burn!

05-13-2010, 10:32 AM	#13
[email protected] Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: West Covina, Ca. Posts: 14 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	It sounds like the rack and pinion needs a rebuild to me. When seals go bad etc. there is play in the steering, although it doesn't hurt to replace those bushings, hope this helps! [email protected]

05-13-2010, 06:20 PM	#14
Gjohnson7 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Age: 40 Posts: 980 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	Is there a rebuild kit for the rack and pinion or do you just have to buy a new one? __________________ LSX Kouki Project, swap completed in Dec 09

05-13-2010, 07:58 PM	#15
slider2828 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,824 Trader Rating: (13) Feedback Score: 13 reviews	go get a remanufactured one... without correct tools the rack is pretty hard to rebuild if it has center play... Not something you wanna mess with... __________________ Turn and Burn!

05-13-2010, 09:04 PM	#16
Forge_55b Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: OC Age: 39 Posts: 414 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	just replace the rack and pinion cause yours is toast, but no idea why that would happen just standing still for a long time.......unless it was always like that

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