Loose steering issue - and steering wheel off center...

spizz · 11-03-2009, 03:16 PM

So when I bought this 96 S10, the steering was a little loose. It annoyed me so I brought it to a shop and had the power steering box swapped out. it didn't fix the problem. I still had about 30 degrees of play in my wheel.
Then about a week ago, I was trying to turn my wheels with my car off because I didn't want to turn my engine over. Regardless, this is supposed to be a legitimate and do-able task.

I clicked the key forward, turned the steering wheel, and the steering wheel clicked twice in one direction - but the wheels didn't turn. So here I was with straight wheels and a steering wheel off center by about 70 degrees.

I took it in again because now I had a wheel off center, and additionally, there was a notable click in the shaft as if there was an issue with the u-joints in the shaft itself. The guy told me it was my steering wheel that may have slipped on the spline. Something definitely slipped because even though the wheel is off-center, the vehicle doesn't pull to one side or the other...

Possible, I thought, but that wouldn't address the issue with the play in the wheel, or the clicking in the shaft. I looked myself with a friend. I had him turn the wheel back and forth while I watched the action. The shaft was right on point - responsive to his rotating the wheel. But that's where it ended. He went to the left and right until he encountered resistance (the range of the play) but no movement ever transferred into the steering linkage.

Does anyone have any idea what the issue is? The box is not even a year old. I think there is a spline where the shaft meets the box where the shaft could have slipped. Or it could be behind the wheel... I'm sick of dropping money into this thing and not getting any progress in the steering.

I want the slop gone and I want my wheel straight. Any help would be great guys. Thanks.

~spizz

rentedmule · 11-03-2009, 07:39 PM

The end of the shaft and the steering box input have matching splines and are keyed (there's a matching flat spot on each) so that shouldn't slip unless it's seriously loose. Don't drive it if it is!

Is there play in the rag-joint? There's a plastic cover over it just before the shaft meets the steering box - you can pop it off with a screwdriver. The whole linkage can be worn out as well. I don't know anything about the steering wheel end of the system.

Drumer919 · 11-04-2009, 01:40 AM

There is no way the steering wheel end could have slipped either, its splined too. I'm guessing something to do with the rag joint.

11-03-2009, 03:16 PM	#1
spizz Registered User Age: 29 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5 Location: User is: OffLine	Loose steering issue - and steering wheel off center... So when I bought this 96 S10, the steering was a little loose. It annoyed me so I brought it to a shop and had the power steering box swapped out. it didn't fix the problem. I still had about 30 degrees of play in my wheel. Then about a week ago, I was trying to turn my wheels with my car off because I didn't want to turn my engine over. Regardless, this is supposed to be a legitimate and do-able task. I clicked the key forward, turned the steering wheel, and the steering wheel clicked twice in one direction - but the wheels didn't turn. So here I was with straight wheels and a steering wheel off center by about 70 degrees. I took it in again because now I had a wheel off center, and additionally, there was a notable click in the shaft as if there was an issue with the u-joints in the shaft itself. The guy told me it was my steering wheel that may have slipped on the spline. Something definitely slipped because even though the wheel is off-center, the vehicle doesn't pull to one side or the other... Possible, I thought, but that wouldn't address the issue with the play in the wheel, or the clicking in the shaft. I looked myself with a friend. I had him turn the wheel back and forth while I watched the action. The shaft was right on point - responsive to his rotating the wheel. But that's where it ended. He went to the left and right until he encountered resistance (the range of the play) but no movement ever transferred into the steering linkage. Does anyone have any idea what the issue is? The box is not even a year old. I think there is a spline where the shaft meets the box where the shaft could have slipped. Or it could be behind the wheel... I'm sick of dropping money into this thing and not getting any progress in the steering. I want the slop gone and I want my wheel straight. Any help would be great guys. Thanks. ~spizz
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11-03-2009, 07:39 PM	#2
rentedmule got cones? Age: 32 Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,287 Location: Edmonton, AB User is: OffLine	Re: Loose steering issue - and steering wheel off center... The end of the shaft and the steering box input have matching splines and are keyed (there's a matching flat spot on each) so that shouldn't slip unless it's seriously loose. Don't drive it if it is! Is there play in the rag-joint? There's a plastic cover over it just before the shaft meets the steering box - you can pop it off with a screwdriver. The whole linkage can be worn out as well. I don't know anything about the steering wheel end of the system.
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11-04-2009, 01:40 AM	#3
Drumer919 Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 67 Location: Grove City, Ohio User is: OffLine	Re: Loose steering issue - and steering wheel off center... There is no way the steering wheel end could have slipped either, its splined too. I'm guessing something to do with the rag joint.
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