Re: Squirrley steering

["Toby Peterson" <tobyp@xxxx>]

Rich - Funny you should bring this up ... One of our members (PNDC) is 
having a problem with loose steering, with a lot of wandering, etc. 
He was told that he had bad tie rod ends, but he is convinced that the 
rack is moving laterally. He also has some damage to the crumple 
tubes, and is further convinced that the frame extension is deflecting 
as he steers the car, creating some of the loose feel. Last night, I 
brought over an expert welder and metal worker to take measurements 
for a reinforcement plate for the crumple tube area, and (if all works 
out okay) we plan to offer a reinforcement kit for sale for people who 
have some damage that they are concerned about. I suspect that Dave 
T. will say something about affecting crash-worthiness, but I think we 
can work around that issue successfully. I will be creating a mylar 
template of the area this weekend, so I will look carefully at the 
bushings and brackets to try to determine where the movement might be 
coming from. I need to do that anyway, to support my fellow PNDC 
member, as we have a club tech session coming up in a week and a half.

The brackets are not welded to the frame, but they do engage some 
protrusions in the frame to prevent movement. Perhaps in your case 
the nuts have loosened a little bit, and the brackets have disengaged 
the frame protrusions?

Toby Peterson VIN 2248
Winged1


--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "cruznmd" <racuti1@xxxx> wrote:
> My crumple tube needs reinforcing. My steering is unmanageable and I
> know that the tube is part of the problem but I've observed 
something
> else;
> 
> I've had someone in the car to turn the steering wheel from
> lock-to-lock.
> 
> Here's a twist: The entire steering rack is -sliding- from side to
> side in it's mounts when you turn the wheel.
> 
> The frame metal isn't shifting like I thought. The brackets aren't
> shifting. the rack is slipping in the rubber bushings in the 
brackets,
> or rather the bushings (and rack) appear to be slipping in the 
brackets.
> 
> I know I need to fix the crumple tube but for the steering rack, do 
I
> just need new bushings? Are the mounts broken? They don't look like
> it. There are no cracks or sharp metal. The bolts underneath don't
> look like they've backed off.
> 
> Can anyone take a picture of their brackets for me? I'm looking for 
a
> view from above, through the brake master cylinder access plate.
> 
> What I don't understand is, it looks like the brackets were welded 
to
> the crumple tube at the factory, yet there are bolts underneath to
> remove them so obviously they come out.
> 
> I don't quite understand what I'm looking at. Help?
> 
> Rich
> #5335