Sloppy Steering

[PCGUY112887]

At higher speeds (60+) the wheel feels... sloppy, very sloppy. It was fine before my Intrax install, but now I can move my wheel a few inches each way at these speeds with no kind of reaction from the car. At slower speeds, the wheel is very tight and the car handles great. High speeds, the car is stable, but the wheel being like this gives me a very uneasy feeling of control. My mechanic even noticed it after installing the springs.

 

Ideas?

[Crazy K]

check....

 

rack bolts are tight...

frame to body bolts are tight...

frame does not MOVE excessively when the wheel is turned...

for bad balljoints and bad tierods??

 

next... tighten the jamb nut on the rack to remove slack...

[IRONDOG442]

CHECK YOUR INTERMEDIATE SHAFT !!!

[PCGUY112887]

I don't know where/what some of this stuff is

 

The balljoints/tierods were checked when I got my springs put on, and both of my balljoints were replaced (one was so bad, all of the rubber was gone and there was no grease and it was grinding steel/steel, but I could never feel it or tell). The steering was fine before the springs and balljoints went on.

[IRONDOG442]

your intermediate shaft is where your steering column and your rack and pinion meet. It is a 2 sided universal joint.

[PCGUY112887]

your intermediate shaft is where your steering column and your rack and pinion meet. It is a 2 sided universal joint.

 

would I find this by looking under the dash?

[Crazy K]

intermediate shaft connects between the steering column and the rack.

 

wait... this is a 96 GP? find out if your car has an intermediate shaft recall.

[PCGUY112887]

I know it had some sort of steering related problem. I checked my old car but never this car.

 

Although last time I called the dealership to question about it, they laughed and told me a car that old isn't in any of their computers to look up. I think they were just lazy.

 

I did do an Autocheck on the car before I bought it, it didn't come up (at all) in the recalls area.

 

Here it is...

 

Recall Date:

DEC 11, 2003

 

Model Affected:

1996 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

 

Summary:

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.

 

Consequence:

IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

 

Remedy:

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

 

Potential Units Affected:

750283

 

Notes:

GENERAL MOTORS CORP. 03062

[IRONDOG442]

Most of the shaft is outside, the shaft is covered by a light grey rubber boot inside. You really cant tell how sloppy it is unless you remove it.

[PCGUY112887]

I should probably also mention that I have noticed a slight "pop" that I can feel in the wheel when turning (either way really). It doesn't happen THAT often, but a few times a week I would say, it's easy to feel.

[rockfangd]

the pop is probably from the strut bearings in the front

[LuminaPower92]

MMMMMmmm no necessarily the bearings, newer Ws have a know problem along with other gm vehicles, the intermediate shaft goes bad, due to inadequate lubrication. I replace countless ones on impalas and trucks. Mine is doing the same thing. Clunk type noise like looseness in the column. I would try that first. Its possible. I have yet to replace mine thats making the racket. Its the exact same noise i hear from the newer models and after replacing the shaft, its gone.

[rockfangd]

very true. i feel many impalas that have very noisy and tight steering wheel

[Regal_GS_1989]

My regal does not have the intermediate shaft issue...yet. My GF's intrigue did, but it just needed a lube job. I grabbed the kit and did it all myself. Only took about 1.5 hours, which included getting all my tools together and then putting them away. However, the steering on hers was not sloppy at all. It just clunked a bit when making slow speed manouvers.

[IRONDOG442]

I gotta do that on mine again :sigh:

[Regal_GS_1989]

I'll post up the write up that I found on the net.  It was really easy to follow.  The Kit from the Dealer was 25 bucks!!!!! It was a little expensive, but still cheaper then taking it in and having it done. Then once you have the rubber stopper that is required, you can just get white lithium grease, which is pretty cheap. I gotta admit, I was kinda sceptical about it working, cause the ISS looked almost like it was new, and it was pretty clean and it moved freely.  But the kit worked. How? I dunno but it worked

 

Here it is:

 

http://www.colinkraft.com/shaft.php