Tightening up the steering

How do I do this? You know in old movies where the guy is driving and the wheel is turning back and forth in a wide arc,but the car is going straight? Kinda like that....LOL

There is definatley some play in the wheel,suggestions? Thanks!

Cheers

 

First thing to do would be to clue us in on the make and model of the car you're asking about as we cannot remember everyone's vehicle by their forum username.

 

Whoops, sorry. I figured everyone is sick of hearing me talk about my car......1988 buick electra estate wagon

 

Are these steering rack or box? just quickly checked rockauto and they list both for the 88 year!

First step would be while the car is on the ground get someone to swing back and forth on the steering wheel. Pop your head under the car and look for any play, if its rack and pinion any play will most likely be in the outer tie rods, inners next.

Most likely its steering box so you have allot more joints to check , check inner and outer tie rods, drag link and idler if all the ball joints are tight it is probably the steering gear box. While someone is turning the wheel it is pretty easy to see if the slop is in the steering box itself.

You can adjust some play out with steering boxes, but I would probably buy a remanufactured one for the hell of it! one of the better things I have done for my wagon. Otherwise if you have play in any joints they are cheap and relatively easy to replace.

 

Thanks. I seriously fear driving this beast in any slippery conditions. I think it may be a steering box......not rack and pinion

 

You have recirculating ball on that car. One the G.M., the most common cause of play is the centre link. They normally loosen up about 200,000 to 250,000 kms. The idler arm can also wear. Pitman arms often seem to last almost forever. Check the ball joints, too, both upper and lower. Tie rod ends are not expensive in the least, either, at under $30 each. If you plan to keep the car long term, I would give thought to a complete front end rebuild kit from PST in New Jersey. You can, I believe, get a poly-graphite kit for the car, and that will take all the play and slop out of the system. The kit includes upper and lower ball joints, inner and outer tie rods including sleeves, pitman arm, ider arm, centre link, upper and lower control arm bushings. You can also get a good discount on both front and back heavy duty anti-sway bars, including poly-graphite bushings and end links. All in, including the bars, you are looking at about $600, but the front end will be good for years of happy driving, and all new at once. Then, of course, you have the labour of installing it all.

There is a certain amount of adjustment built into the steering box if it is the cause of the problem. A rebuilt box is going to run between $200 and $300 at the outside. I've never priced out one for a Buick, but the one for my Ford is $210, so yours will be somewhere in that same area. The only special tool you need to do it yourself is the puller to remove the pitman arm from the sector shaft. If the power steering lines are getting old, or show the least bit of cracking, might as well put in new ones at the same time.

 

Mike's reply pretty well hit it for your 1988 buick electra estate wagon. RockAuto usually is the cheapest but give the people at your local discount suppy a try first. Like NAPA or those type if you have them.
May only be a few worn items and the box needing adjustment. But in the long term a full rebuild will last forever. If you or a friend does the work it can be done a piece at a time, within reason.
I had the Nova GM front end in my old 1941 Ford done over ten years ago and it is still like new. Yes GM in a Ford!

 

Like Mike mentioned, go through your front end and make sure there aren't any issues with those parts. After that's done, you can move on to the steering box. Your's uses the same exact steering box as my AMC Eagles did. I replaced my 86 Eagle's box with one from a 93-98 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It was a direct bolt in with no modifications needed. It has tight steering like a sports car now. However, it is quite stiff at slow speeds when turning into a driveway or parking spot. But I don't mind that. I installed one from a Jeep Cherokee, not Grand, on my 87 with the big tires. It's not as "stiff" as the Grand box, but it is a definite improvement over the original "I can't feel the road" steering box.

 

Wow, thanks a ton for all the excellent info!!!

 

Find an old time mechanic with a small shop and no sign. Have him (or her;-)) look at it. Most of the time on these newer cars like yours, it may just be tie rod ends and or the pitman arm. These are items that you can inspect with a little reasearch, a jack, jack stands and assistant. Your steering is not something to take lightly but at the same time I am not one to hand over $800 when $100 would fix it.

 

I'm sorry but HOW do I adjust the steering box?

 

Don't even try. Get that shadetree mechanic or some old timer you can trust. After brakes, the steering is the most important thing on your car. Well besides you!

 

I am not familiar with a 1988 steering box but I think everyone's point is that it is most likely not the steering box. If you had an old car with manual steering I could tell you exactly how to adjust the box complete with pictures.

 

My first guess is still the centre link. That seems to be the part that fails first on these cars. The inner tie rod ends, pitman arm and idler arm all connect to it. On Fords, these last forever, but on the full sized G.M.s, they do tend to wear. It seems the metal was not hard enough around the tie rod end connection, as that is where the play normally happens.

 

My suggestion is..... bring it to a shop, and as mentioned a old school shop if you can find one. Via oldschool real guys.. In this case I could give my 2-bits but for safety sake I'll only suggest a shop for what you are experiencing....... with out seeing/driving this one problem leaves to many questions....



Bring the car to a shop for your own safety ......


Don't want you to get hurt, and or others also....

QUOTE, by you>>>>>

I seriously fear driving this beast in any slippery conditions.


If you fear it, it needs attention ASAP