Sloppy Steering After Longtubes, Bad Steering Shaft?

[K_Brogoitti]

So I just installed long tube headers and now I have quite a bit of play in my steering wheel that wasn't there before. It is VERY annoying driving down the road! Of course I had to remove my steering shaft. Any ideas? Bad steering shaft? Did I eff something up in the firewall? Car was up on jack stands with the suspension hanging for a few days. Didn't remove the rack, all bolts are tight.

 

[Chilliwack 42]

If it only happened after you reinstalled it, my guess will be something didn't go back together right. Is the bolt at the plastic sleeve tight? Mine seemed sloppy and was loose there. Tightened it and it was fine.

 

[K_Brogoitti]

Plastic sleeve on the rack or firewall?

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[Kalatrax]

Double check the bolts holding the shaft to the rack and firewall. I thought mine were tight enough but then I could move the wheel a 1/2" each way with no response. Tightened the hell out of them and now they're good.

 

[fdjizm]

Did you put the steering shaft clamp bolt in backwards? that is very easy to do and it will tighten up like it's in fine but not clamp down.

 

[sportinawoody]

Did you put the steering shaft clamp bolt in backwards? that is very easy to do and it will tighten up like it's in fine but not clamp down.

and we have a winner

 

[K_Brogoitti]

Sweet, thanks for the input fellas! I'll check it out today

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[Mustang Mark]

Weird my steering has been really stiff since I installed my long tubes.

 

[K_Brogoitti]

and we have a winner

I wish mine was the same... My poor boy is getting his Weiner hacked today... So maybe I can finish this afternoon

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[msczesny1186]

Tighten the shaft bolts!

 

[AndrewNagle]

Weird my steering has been really stiff since I installed my long tubes.

Probably rubbing

 

[Chilliwack 42]

I think fdjizm explained it better than I did. It's the clamp bolt where the shaft slides into the teflon sleeve at the end of the universal joint. I can't photoshop an arrow into this picture, but it's the bolt facing towards you right in the middle of the picture.

 

[K_Brogoitti]

The top bolt in the photo right, not the one that secures the shaft to the rack correct?

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[K_Brogoitti]

Figured out why my steering was sloppy!!! I installed the top bolt next to the firewall backwards. Then like a dumbass I overtightened it and stripped the threads out! :donkey: easy fix though for a clever mechanic. Smaller grade 8 bolt and nut.

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[mitch]

I seem to have the same issue.
I checked that bolt and it was pretty darn tight.

I'm guessing my problem is in the sleeve part... See the video for a better description.
Does that look normal?? Its giving me about 1/2 inch of play in the streering wheel,

TIA,
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae749-HFlWo&list=UUPA-YSQtK-jqvDlDn3lCYTw

 

[07 Boss]

I seem to have the same issue.
I checked that bolt and it was pretty darn tight.

I'm guessing my problem is in the sleeve part... See the video for a better description.
Does that look normal?? Its giving me about 1/2 inch of play in the streering wheel,

TIA,
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae749-HFlWo&list=UUPA-YSQtK-jqvDlDn3lCYTw

You need to turn that bolt the other way. Put it in from the other side. The clamp only has threads on the one side so it needs to go through the side with no threads and then into the side with threads. That way when you tighten it down it actually pulls the clamp together.

 

[mitch]

Thanks, that was a good suggestions, but I got under there and it is in correctly.

 

[skwerl]

Are you positive the slop is between the inner and outer shaft sections? Have someone turn the wheel back and forth while you place your hand on the transition to verify that is where the slop is.

 

[deebo05]

I know this sounds stupid, but did you check the plastic sleeve on the shaft inside the car and make sure it is seated? that will def. cause slop in the wheel. usually you have to push the column shaft back to get the steering shaft out.