Loose Steering Fix

[NJSHO]

I had been having problems with my steering being really sloppy. I followed all the instructions on shotimes about tightening the bolts down by the slip joint. When that didn't work I started disconnecting different parts of the system to isolate the looseness. What I found out was that when I disconnected the slip shaft from the column universal joint, and while the wheel was locked that I still had play. This meant that the looseness was some where on the column side and not the slip joint side. I decided to pull the wheel off and low and behold I found my problem. The steering shaft is keyed with 4 flat spots on the round shaft. The steering wheel has 2 flat spots in it that mate to the left and right flat spot of the column shaft (sorry no pictures.) My problem was that the 2 flat spots on the column shaft were starting to round over. I got some JBWeld and put a thin coat on the column shaft, put the steering wheel back on, torque the bolt, and let it sit over night. The JBWeld filled in any gaps that were there, and now my steering is slop free and feels like a whole new system. This might be the case of many sho's that have sloppy steering, new suspension, and everything below the column is tight. The steering wheel might be difficult to take off in the future, but in the 5 years that I've owned this car this is the first time I’ve ever took the wheel off. Besides its nothing a good puller won't take care off.

 

[AREA 91]

Good to know.

 

[Redline]

Hmm, thanks for the info, I'll have to check it out.

 

[shomesomesho]

Can you post pics of the part(s) you are refering to?

 

[NJSHO]

Nope otherwise i would have. It was too cold out to dilly dally I just wanted to get it back together, sorry. SHO92 should be replacing his steering wheel soon and i will try to get him to take some pics.