Help! My '85 GSL-SE with manual steering has a case of wanderlust! It has about 2" of slack measured at the steering wheel rim.
I took it to the tire/front end place to be checked out, so I could learn the bad news of what parts needed to be replaced, but they said "It looks fine". I said that it didn't drive fine! When you reach in and work the steering wheel while watching the front wheels (or the linkage) there doesn't appear to be any slack at all - a slight movement of the steering wheel yields front wheel movement. I even tugged around a bit on the rear wheels to see if it is steering in the back ( I had a Jag once that steered in the back due to worn bearings in the suspension), but it all seems tight. The front wheel bearings had excessive slack, so I adjusted them, and I checked air pressure, but everything stays the same. In rutted pavement, it is way too exciting!
Any ideas?

 

http://www.mazspeed.com/steeringgear.htm

Check that, this question comes up QUITE often. I know you didnt know to search for it.

Mods can we archive some threads this century?

 

I dont think they do that anymore......... Doesnt seem like it..... But they do change your "status" about once every 2 days........

 

It could also be a worn idler arm bushing, worn ball joints or a combination of all these things.

 

Im the one changing it

 

Thanks, all. I immediately suspected the steering box, and had stumbled on the procedure, but since the tire seems to move with small steering wheel movements and the front end shop said it all looked good, I was looking elsewhere. I'll go ahead and do the steering box procedure and check back in.
Steve

 

HOW???

 

gotta break 1000 posts.

 

Mwahahahahaha.... going to the test area.....

Jeff