Two questions,

First one is when I am driving or even when the car is parked, the steering wheel moves allot without the wheels turning. Does that sound like play in the steering box? Would that also cause the car to pull to one side because it pulls to the right and I had the alignment checked and thats not it.

And second when I am driving I notice this problem at about 70-80 mph. the car just starts to bump. Like a wheel is out of ballance but I had that checked and thats fine. I dont know what else it could be. Could that also be because of the play in the steering box?

 

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

 

its not too hard to tighten it up. super easy on the 79-80's due to one adjustment. for the wumpty bump, when was your last alignment?

 

try replaceing the idler arm bushing, it is really easy and the bushings are like $3, sounds like you need to adjust the box though.

I am afraid I will **** up my steering box so im going to have my dealership do it.

 

About the bumping, have your wheels re-balanced. A weight probably flew off one of the rims.

 

I all ready had them re balanced. I dont know what it could be. Oh and what would the idler arm bushing do if I replaced it. Do any of you know how much a steering box for a 82 rx7 would be. If its two expensive, I think I will pick one up at a junk yard.

 

the steering box/column is actually pretty cheap. About $300 installed (CDN - about $170-200 US)

 

A junkyard steering box probably won't do you much good. Chances are any steering box you find in the junkyard will have lots of play in it too. I'd buy a new one or have yours adjusted if I were you.

 

Well thats 300 I dont have. Well I need to do something because it is getting bad. Where would be the best place to get one by the way.

 

Like I said, $170-$200 US. And any used one could be as worn as yours.

 

I seem to be having similar problems - at highway speeds, the car will wander left or right a bit without me turning the wheel. The steering box and columb were replaced, so maybe it's something in the steering?

 

Wandering= worn control arm bushings.

82mazdarx7, if you have no $, why dont you read the mazspeed link that was posted and tighten it . They rarely get worn to the point of no repair.

 

The idler arm bushings are crap. I am sure this is your problem. The idler is on the passenger frame rail across from the steering box. remove the one nut and washer and the bushing will slide out. There is another one on the bottom of the bracket as well. 2 bushings in all. They are a cone shape. Replace these and try the steering box fix on the page listed above.


-billy

 

ditto, i had that typed up and mindspring **** a brick again. damn dialup ****. its a really simple swap. rereading your post i would be almost positive thats it.

 

Sounds good. I will replace the idler arm bushings. Meanwhile I think I need to have the wheels rebalanced again.

 

I just talked to my mechanic at mazdas plus in sacramento. He said that you can hardly every adjust them to where they are suppost to be. And its best to just replace it. He quoted me 300 out the door, so I think I will just do that.

 

Oh and I forgot. I just had the wheels balanced again today and the bumping is gone for now. (its about time) so thats one problem thats gone

 

Sidenote......How can you tell if the ball joints need to be replaced?