There is significant play in my steering.

What is causing this?

"Devils Advocate" <devilsadvocate66@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:473b2d6b$0$5296$9a566e8b@news.aliant.net...
> There is significant play in my steering.
>
> What is causing this?

Many possibilities:

- Bad Tie Rod Ends
- Bad ball joints
- Bad steering rack
- Loose steering rack
- Bad steering shaft universal joint

Any of these things could be very dangerous. This seems like a potentially
very serious problem. I wouldn't risk my life waiting on speculation from
members of this newsgroup. I suggest you take the car to a professional
mechanic ASAP.

Ed

"Devils Advocate" <devilsadvocate66@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:473b2d6b$0$5296$9a566e8b@news.aliant.net...
> There is significant play in my steering.
>
> What is causing this?
>
What year, model, mileage, and service history vehicle? Is this a new car
to you? Did the looseness occur suddenly or over time?

Ed White's advice is very good, follow it especially if you are not familiar
with the things he listed to check.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

"C. E. White" <cewhite3@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:13jmnblqbqtika5@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Devils Advocate" <devilsadvocate66@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:473b2d6b$0$5296$9a566e8b@news.aliant.net...
>> There is significant play in my steering.
>>
>> What is causing this?
>
> Many possibilities:
>
> - Bad Tie Rod Ends

NOPE, not possible to cause 1" play in steering wheel.

> - Bad ball joints

NOPE, not possible to cause 1" play in steering wheel.

> - Bad steering rack

Possible.
> - Loose steering rack

possible
> - Bad steering shaft universal joint

Possible.
>
> Any of these things could be very dangerous. This seems like a potentially
> very serious problem. I wouldn't risk my life waiting on speculation from
> members of this newsgroup. I suggest you take the car to a professional
> mechanic ASAP.

Something tells me it could be the lower steering column shaft.

I was going to buy this car, don't have it bought yet.
>
> Ed
>

"Devils Advocate" <devilsadvocate66@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:473cc13d$0$5292$9a566e8b@news.aliant.net...
>
> "C. E. White" <cewhite3@mindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:13jmnblqbqtika5@corp.supernews.com...
>>
>> "Devils Advocate" <devilsadvocate66@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:473b2d6b$0$5296$9a566e8b@news.aliant.net...
>>> There is significant play in my steering.
>>>
>>> What is causing this?
>>
>> Many possibilities:
>>
>> - Bad Tie Rod Ends
>
> NOPE, not possible to cause 1" play in steering wheel.
>
>> - Bad ball joints
>
> NOPE, not possible to cause 1" play in steering wheel.
>
>> - Bad steering rack
>
> Possible.
>> - Loose steering rack
>
> possible
>> - Bad steering shaft universal joint
>
> Possible.
>>
>> Any of these things could be very dangerous. This seems like a
>> potentially very serious problem. I wouldn't risk my life waiting on
>> speculation from members of this newsgroup. I suggest you take the car to
>> a professional mechanic ASAP.
>
> Something tells me it could be the lower steering column shaft.
>
> I was going to buy this car, don't have it bought yet.

Before you just said "significant, not 1". To be honest, I am not sure what
1" of play means. Do you mean the center of the wheel can move 1/2" in
either direction around the neutral point without moving the wheels? If so,
any of the things I mentioned could still be the cause. One inch of slop at
the top of the wheel is only about 6 degrees of steering wheel movement,
which translates into about a third of a degree of movement at the road
wheels, or a few hundredths of an inch of slop at the steering components
(tie rods, ball joints, bushings, etc).

Before I bought the car, I'd have it looked at by a competent front end
mechanic.

Ed