Steering wheel play Update: Need a new rack, Magnasteer Q's?

[5speedz34]

Well, on Aarons Z34 I have about a 1/2" of play where the wheel seems "loose." My old Z34 never did this, and I think it's the big U-joint that needs to be replaced. How should I go about replacing it?

[Brian P]

you sure it's not the inner tie rods?

[JoroCorona]

Or the fact that it has no structual integrity because of the headers?

[5speedz34]

Or the fact that it has no structual integrity because of the headers?

 

That might be one of the dumbest things I've heard all week. You have never seen the notch let alone never even been in my car.

 

How do I check inner tierods? I had a friend who had the same problem and he said it was the u-joint in the steering column.

[GP1138]

Or the fact that it has no structual integrity because of the headers?

 

How do I check inner tierods?

 

I believe you jack the car up so the wheel in question is off the ground (or in your case, so the front end is off the ground). Then to check tie rods, grab the tire at 3 and 9 and push and pull from side to side to see if there is any play. To check balljoints, grab the tire at 12 and 6 and do the same thing.

[5speedz34]

Or the fact that it has no structual integrity because of the headers?

 

How do I check inner tierods?

 

I believe you jack the car up so the wheel in question is off the ground (or in your case, so the front end is off the ground). Then to check tie rods, grab the tire at 3 and 9 and push and pull from side to side to see if there is any play. To check balljoints, grab the tire at 12 and 6 and do the same thing.

Right, I thought that was for outers, and when I was down at Ben's I think they would've noticed the inners if they where bad.

[JoroCorona]

Whoa, calmness man. It was a joke.

 

It could me the universal at the end of the steering column, but I doubt it. Also, since you already replaced the out tie rods, I doubt you would have been dumb enough not to check the inners, so thats out of here.

 

Check your rack mounts, any slop in them and it would transmit to the entire steering system.

 

Also, I've seen cars with collasable steering columns have a stress point in them and create a weak point in the column itself. This lets the steering wheel turn abit before actually engaging the rack. However, I've only ever seen this on a car that was in a front end collision before.

[5speedz34]

I still think that the U-joint is the problem because like I said my friend replaced it on his, and it took care of everything.

[RareGMFan]

My red TGP is doing the same exact thing, and it makes the car a bit hard to control when you give it a little throttle off the line (pulls left and right pretty hard), and again if you push it good enough to chirp into second. I have yet to check the tie rods, ball-joints, and the likes, but I'm leaning toward something in the rack/column as well.

[5speedz34]

Well, I'm getting a new tire put on Wedsnesday or Thursday. I'll have them check everything out tommorow.

[jeremy]

moved to the steering section

[5speedz34]

Yeah, well I just got back from the alignment shop. They said I need a new rack hopefully I don't need to drop the subframe, or else I gotta pull the rear header.

 

 

So I would like to maybe convert to the Magnasteer rack. I'm going to be doing some research on it in the next few days. I know of a '95 GP with one but I don't know how difficult it would be to install and wire it up.

 

Also I remember a post on W-body source, if anyone has any info for me.

 

EDIT: I checked some stuff out at partsamerica, and it seems like the pumps are the same minus the plug that goes into it.

 

For the rack it's different too, here are the links.

 

Racks:

 

 

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?mfrcode=A1C&mfrpartnumber=22142&parttype=252&ptset=A

 

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?mfrcode=A1C&mfrpartnumber=22180&parttype=252&ptset=A

 

Pumps:

 

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?mfrcode=A1C&mfrpartnumber=2034830&parttype=251&ptset=A

[5speedz34]

Ok, well I found a bunch of posts by Shawn, Brian P, and some others.

 

I'm either going to replace the rack with a Magnasteer one or a TGP rack.

 

But please someone chime in on this!

 

Thanks

 

EDIT: Looks like I need the steering column for the Magnasteer rack! I don't think the airbag columns are interchangle so fuck it.

[slick]

IIRC, the TGP got the quickest of all of the racks. Also, I am fairly sure you will have to drop the subframe to get the rack out.

[5speedz34]

Well, it looks like I'm going to get the TGP rack.

 

Anyone? Anyone?

[maybe2fast]

sounds like you are working on that car more than you are driving it...

[5speedz34]

Ehhh, something like that.

[White93z34]

lets just say alot of us do that don...

[5speedz34]

Anyone else going to chime in on this I think I'm going to be getting the TGP rack.

 

EDIT: I called the dealer and told them it was for a '90 GP Turbo, and he gave me 2 options for sport and firm ride suspensions. Of course I told him sport.

 

GM part number is 26046139 and AC Delco # is 36-9021

 

Does anyone know anywhere that carries AC delco?

[GnatGoSplat]

I don't have much to say, except I also think the TGP has the quickest ratio rack. Been awhile since I researched this though.

 

I've read some reviews in the past where the reviewer didn't like the Magnasteer rack. GM still uses it though (I think?) so enough people must have liked it.

I don't know any place that carries AC Delco anymore except the GM dealer.

[Intlcutlass]

I don't have much to say, except I also think the TGP has the quickest ratio rack. Been awhile since I researched this though.

 

I've read some reviews in the past where the reviewer didn't like the Magnasteer rack. GM still uses it though (I think?) so enough people must have liked it.

I don't know any place that carries AC Delco anymore except the GM dealer.

 

I thought the CS Internationals had the quickest ratio....Something like a 2.25 turns while the TGP got a 2.5

[GnatGoSplat]

Nope. The rack in the TGP is definitely much quicker than the one in the CS Int'ls.

[Brian P]

I don't think it's "much" quicker. 2.25 vs 2.5. Driving it feels the same. I almost wonder if the only difference is the amount the rack travels, like the TGP rack doesn't move as far because of the wide factory tires/rims I duno if that's the case, But either way you'll be happy with a TGP rack or rack from a '88-90 GP SE, '89-92 Intl series Cutlass, some Lumina euros got it (I'm surprised... the Z34 didn't get it?) etc etc

[GnatGoSplat]

The original TGP rack is the 9020 and isn't the same as the 9021 replacements.

My TGP has a noticeably quicker rack than any other FE3 car I've driven. Driving it DEFINITELY doesn't feel the same as the 88, 89, and 94 Cutlass. Now those 3 feel pretty similar, but the TGP feels very different.

[Brian P]

see I wonder if your '89 has the quickest ratio rack the Cutlass can get. Your 94 should have the same rack as my '95 which is the "middle" rack. My old '89 Cutlass Intl and my friend's old TGP AND his old '89 GP SE felt similar. Did the '88 International get the quick rack at all?