Steering Freeplay

[Greg]

or

Edited January 1, 2008 by Greg

[Abo Bob]

I haven't had this issue with the 34 yet but with the 31 there are bushes that hold the rack in place on either end of it and they fell apart.

Could it also be the ball joints on the end of your tie rods perhaps? You can check that yourself fairly easily.

In the 31 I had to undo the engine mounts and jack the engine up to get the bushes out. It was like a new car once I had done it though.

[blind_elk]

The ends of the actual rack can wear. So the arm protruding from the rack to the tie-rod can have a bit of slop in it.

[Greg]

thanks for the replies so far guys

i got a 28 point safety check from pedders and the guy said my front end was the tightest he has seen on a skyline - so what else could be casuing this?

I think it is the cause of my tramlining as the steering has the slop so can follow grooves etc as it wants to.

[arep3]

the mechanic reckons that my rack needs rebuilding. we had it on the hoist and you could hang onto the wheels and turn them both in and out toward each other. make sense? i think its called toe in. worn bushes maybe? i haven't looked any further into it yet. i would love to know how much its gonna set me back. maybe the same problem your having

[skylinecouple]

Replace your steering rack bushes with superpro urethane.Should tighten up the rack without undue road noise.Also upper outer bush with adjustment for negative camber from Noltec.Do these before worrying about springs and shocksand front end will feel much better.