My buddy just spent $1300 for a 66,000 mile '85 GS, and it's got a few problems, the gas tank leaks a bit (I have a spare from my race car for him), it has a little dent on a fender, paint is decent, interior is great.. BUT the problem I noticed is the infamous loose steering wheel. What is involved in fixing (permanently fixing) the steering play? Is there a conversion kit that's sold? It just feels really crappy, ESPECIALLY when you get on the road and there's ruts in the road, it pulls side to side, really really really crappy.

 

There's a decent write-up on that subject here: http://www.mazspeed.com/steeringgear.htm . BTW, you'll never be able to permanently fix the play in the steering wheel... they all wear out eventually .

 

Replace the idler arm bushings too. It is supposed to help a lot and cheap.

 

Yep...Idler arm bushing time....Anyway, you start there. It's on the frame rail...Passenger side, near the exhaust manifold....

Denny, hidin' in the corncrib....

 

Is there anywhere that sells new or rebuilt boxes? I really dunno the condition of my box, especially after the crash. I'd just like to start over fresh.

Edit:

HOLY SHIZNIT!!! Manual's $552.93 from Mazdatrix! Power's $1263.26. That's freakin nuts.

I wanted to go power and just put a loopback hose on it. Screw that noise. I'm just gonna get a used one from the junker.

 

so it seems that there's no swap kit to go to Rack & Pinion? I guess just rebuilding it would work.

 

No one's found an affordable rack and pinion swap yet. Some people have experimented with it but...

As far as rebuilding the box... good luck. Just find a reasonably tight one at the junkers. I'd try the above adjustements before trashing a "bad" one first. Most loose boxes can be brought back to close to original condition by readjusting them.

 

Before accusing your box as the culprit check all your ball joints and tie rods. Then check the idler arm bushings (probably shot). Check to see if there is any lube in the box (had one stick once later to find out that the lube drained out over the years).

good luck

 

Nah. see, I slammed the car sideways into another car at 45 MPH and snapped the tie rod in two. I don't trust the guts of the box now. Don't need it fragmenting apart after I have the car back together again.

It did fare well while driving it to storage though. Max speed was about 50 MPH.