The steering on my 84 Series 3 was like yours but I fixed it with a simple adjustment that takes about 2 minutes and only needs a spanner and a large blade screwdriver.

On top of the steering box is a cap about the size of a timble. Underneath this is a lock nut on a threaded shaft. The shaft has a slot in the end. (The shaft is what the steering arm coming out of the bottom of the steering box is attached to. )

Undo the lock nut and use the screw driver to turn the shaft anti clockwise (unscrew). The shaft is keyed so that the teeth mesh differently depending on the position of the shaft in relation to the teeth on the steering column shaft. The meshing is tightest in the unscrewed (up) position.

The nature force of steering pull the shaft down if the lock nut is not locking correctly.

Do up the lock nut replace the cap and you should be down to about half to one inch of steering wheel play.

The adjustment should take less time than a post to this thread.

P.S. My car is right hand drive (being from Australia) but the adjustment is the same for left hand drive and I do not think that power steering makes any difference because the power steering mechanism is at the top end of the steering box.

 

I had to adjust mine's a couple of times to get it right. I think one of my problems is that that big *** nut was coming loose.

 

The first time I adjusted mine I did not tighten the lock nut enough.

Within 3 months the shaft had dropped and the steering was sloppy again.

I did the adjustment again and made sure the locknut was tight and have had no worries since then.

 

welcome to 20 year old truck steering, damn mazda

 

85 GSL with PS, 84 GS non PS (racecar). Both have less than 1/4" of play. Check the tierods, idler arm bushings and steering box itself. See where the slop is and fix it you lazy bastards! Theres abosutely no reason to live with that much play. Alot cheaper than the R&P too.


Or just keep whinning about how crappy the Mazda recirc ball steering is. I have no wondersteer.

 

Mine is less than a 1/4" but it tends to wander on the highway. 15x7 wheels and wider Kumhos don't help matters on those highway ruts .

 

What toe in and caster setting are yu running?

 

Dunno- I would assume factory specs. Never adjusted them after I swapped factory wheels and tire size.

The guy I bought the car from had this machine pretty well maintained, including alignments. Any recommendations?

 

mines 7inches....... you guys are all hung like tictacs

Just kidding...... i have no play in my streering wheel