I just picked up an 85 RX-7 (fun!). Most of the car seems to be in good working condition, but there is about a half inch of slop in the steering wheel where it does not respond at all. Beyond that point it works fine.

Its not really enough to bother me (at least not yet) but I was wondering if it will cause any future problems leaving it the way it is for the time being.

 

The most likely culprits are either bushings or the steering box. Bushings are cheap and easy to replace, and it's easy to adjust the tightness of the steering box. You just wanna make sure you don't over tighten the adjustment bolt, or it'll cause rapid wear on the internal components.

 

Check you idler arm bushings, common culprit to steering wheel slop. Pretty cheap and common for them to go bad due to the exhaust manifold right next to it which bakes 'em......

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I've been picking this sort of thing up slowly, but now that I actually have a car that I like I've been spending more time tinkering.

 

If the slop doesn't really bother me.... should i adjust anything?
It's got about an inch of play...

 

If your bushings and ball joints and tie rod ends are ok and the slop does not bother you I say leave it. I drove around for 2 years with this prob and did not faze me