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Tips
Tips

Funny feeling in my steering

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roofman

roofman

Jedi Knight
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My 72 TR6 has developed a funny feeling in the steering. I can feel it in the steering wheel while turning. I also have a little play in my wheel. The car tracks straight but when I turn I can feel a hesitation, with an associated noise ( not loud) and can feel it in the steering wheel. Where should I start?
 
If there is play in the steering wheel, and if by that you mean that you can turn the steering wheel a bit before the road wheels begin to turn, then you have rack mounting problems.
 
Check out those rubber U-Joints in the column. After that, check the steering rack hold down clamps, and the rubber pieces under the clamps. After that, the tie rod ends.
 
Was just out poking around under the hood. The steering shaft can be wiggled where it comes through the firewall, the steering flex coupling joint is dry rubber and the shaft can be wiggled where it connects at the sterring box.
 
If I were you I would turn the key to get the steering lock off, and turn the s/wheel with one hand while looking and feeling on the shaft where motion is being lost. Listen for any clicks coming from the rack mounts or tierods also. Watch the front tire- there really shouldn't be much lost motion at all between the steering wheel and the road wheel when you rock it back and forth. Pete
 
No clicks, more of a slipping feeling.
What type fluid/grease goes in the steering box?
I am definatly going to replace the rubber flex joint.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:] The steering shaft can be wiggled where it comes through the firewall...[/QUOTE]
Check under the dash. You will see a pair of torque bars that connect from the lock to the fire wall under the steering shaft. At the fire wall, where the torque bar bolts to a flange check to see that the flange has not broken on the top from fatigue.
 
Looking at the Vicky Brit catalog, what is the pinch nut?
 
Roofman, I went throught his earlier this month. I started a thread on "notchy steering" This is what I did:

I troubleshot this down to the rack by disconnecting each component.
1. Right tierod end to eliminate balljoint and trunnion.
2. Left tierod end to eliminate balljoint and trunnion.
3. Lower/upper ujoint (free and flexible, no binding) to eliminate upper column.
4. Removed rack and found inner tierods to be very tight.Rebuilt/reset to factory specs.
5. Disassembled rack. Found upper and lower pinion bushing to be out of round by .030. And heavy wear on the thrust washers here. Pinion gear itself was in excellant condtion. The book doesn't call out a lateral tolerance but only end float. Replaced bushings and thrust washers, set end float.
Set lateral float of .006 on rack by shimming. It appears the DPO had removed some shims in an attempt to "tighten" the steering and had the rack binding in the tube.
6. Installed in car and found a very smooth rotation from lock to lock.

Your interior column bushings sound worn if the the shaft moves inside and the felt strip and mount are in good shape.

The pinch bolt/nuts (that does not sound right) are located on the metal ujoint connecting the rack to column.

(edited for spelling)

Gordo
 
Thank you gentlemen, time to dig in this weekend.
 
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