My steering wheel vibrates a lot when slowing down from high speeds. It also seems to shake or move in/out a fraction of an inch when I'm on a slope, stopped, and press and then release the brakes quickly.
Is this normal? What is causing my steering wheel to be so loose?
Possibally a LOOSE NUT BEHIND THE WHEEL!!!! ;D
OK Honestly...
Could be a loose rack & pinion or broken rag-joint .
If those R OK then it is controll strut bushings.
From Pintony
How do I go about tightening up the rack and pinion?
It also could be worn out Tie-Rod Ends, Ball Joints, loose Bearings. Does it only happen when you hit Your Brakes? If it is it could be warped Rotors...it's one of those things you have to go thru step by step and check one thing at a time.
turbowagonman
I know my rotors are slightly warped, but it only happens when I slow down from high speeds. My front end squeals a lot when turning at slow speeds, and I'm pretty sure it's the ball joints.
I've got new bushings here at my finger tips....
Now how do I go about removing the old bushings without taking the control arms to a machine shop? I don't have the money to pay someone to do it for me, so I'd prefer to do it myself.
After driving the car a bit and really looking/listening to where the vibration is originating from, I think it may be from my steering column. I can "jiggle" the steering wheel about 1/16" inside the car. Could my steering shaft be loose? What is there inside or around the steering column from behind the firewall that could cause this?
Quote from: dave1987 on August 22, 2007, 04:53:05 AM
I've got new bushings here at my finger tips....
Now how do I go about removing the old bushings without taking the control arms to a machine shop? I don't have the money to pay someone to do it for me, so I'd prefer to do it myself.
This is how I did mine, for the same reason. First I removed the Controll Arms, then I "Burned" the old bushings out with my Acetailine torch. After you remove that you will have to remove the metal portion that is left, after removing that I then used the Two Socket method to "Press" in my new bushings.
On your Steering Wheel how does it "Wiggle" In-n-Out or Side to Side?
turbowagonman
It moves in and out when it feels loose.
Okay, so I fixed the up and down loose steering column problem. It turns out that the teeth that the upper steering bearing go on were so worn down that the column was allowed enough play inside the column to cause massive vibration. It's a little better now, but there's still some vibrations....
Now that I have fixed part of the problem, I can see more of what the base problem really is. It appears that the wheel is rappidly vibrating left and right but only about 1/4" or so. Just enough to make the car noisy from vibration.
I'm thinking of bringing it in to les schwab and having them take a look at the front end for me.
When you move it side to side, does the steering shaft move inside the column, or are you talking about "play" in the wheel when turning?
If it moves inside the column, you could use a new column. Putting bearings in the old one just isn't a real option.
if it's "play" I'd put my money on the "rag joint". Look at the column under the hood, just past the firewall. there's a place where the upper meets the lower. There should be what looks like a piece of old tire between the two. If it's missing or looks shaggy, you need one.
You say that your rotors are warped? That would cause your high speed vibration too. Though the loose column makes it easier to feel, and hear.
Oh no no. I was trying to say that I found the source of my loose column. I found a 79 in the scrap yard with a like new steering shaft in it which I pulled and was able to get for $5.00. I popped that sucker in and taped the bearing around the column and it's nice and snug now. No more up and down shutter in the wheel!
I would bet money that my high speed breaking vibration is due to warped rotors though. I can get a pair of rotors in town for about $60.00. hopefully that solves my problem!
Yeah I just put rotors on my '74. they were $33 ea