Jeff,
1) Steering rack connected by joint to track (tie) rod (TR).
2) TR connected by joint to track rod end (TRE).
3) TRE connected by joint to steering arm.
4) Steering arm connected by joint to hub.
5) Hub connected to road wheel
>From your description, areas 2 & 3 sound as if they are the problem although
(1) is a possibility. 4 & 5 are rarely problem areas - but you have heard of
wheels dropping off!! Movement of the road wheel in a '12-6' o'clock plane
is commonly wheel bearing adjustment but can be wear in suspension. Movement
in the '9-12' o'clock plane suggests you have major problems J So don't do it.
CHECKING
Method 1. Jack the affect wheel up (leave the other side on the ground to
provide resistance) and wobble the lifted wheel from side to side at the '3-9'
o'clock positions.
Method 2. Lie on your back (or your side if you feel so inclined), stick your
hand and arm up behind the affected wheel and move the steering wheel around
4ins from side to side reasonably quickly. This method is a better test
because of the resistance of the wheel on the road surface exaggerates the
play. However, it presumes you like lying in the dirt and you have someone to
help or very long arms.
Then, for both methods - Whilst doing this moving about (or whilst someone
else is doing it) gently hold the TRE top and bottom. You will feel any play
present as the joint moves from side to side and up and down. SMALL amounts
of side to side play are acceptable (say 0.05-0.10in). ANY vertical movement
is NOT and the joint is beginning to - or is - ready to fall apart. If you
hold the joint tightly you will not have the feeling in your fingers, be
careful and just caress - you need to feel the slightest movement. Replace
the TRE if required, whilst doing this, check the threaded section to ensure
the thread is OK and no cracks are appearing near the cinch nut area. (If it
was loose before there must be a reason for this.) The cinch nut is there to
lock the TR and TRE together. If there is play between the TRE and TR without
the cinch nut this is worrying as there should not be any. The source should
be investigated and rectified.
IMH experience if the cinch nut has been loose for some time and moisture has
got into the thread area you will find a residue of powered rust. If a new
TRE fits snugly on a cleaned TR, fine no problem. But the thread on the TR's
can be worn away by rust and if this is the case you need a replacement TR (or
rack if you can't get one). This is a very sad time. L
If you find the play is at (1) this should be rectified immediately as every
bump/steering movement made is getting the TR to a point where it will fall
out of the steering rack. The good news is that you will have one wheel that
steers and the other one is unlikely to turn one way sharply but; it will
wobble violently from side to side because of the caster angle and point your
car in directions you do not want it to go in. You will need to turn the
wheel that steers a lot further and quicker than normal when this happens and,
you may find the true colour of adrenaline and the cost of replacement shorts.
Back to serious - If your TR has turned within the TRE you have altered the
front wheel tracking and have a reduced grip situation combined with excess
wear on your front tyres. This needs rectifying. If you know how far the rod
turned when you tightened the cinch nut, turn it back and grip the rod with an
adjustable (self gripping wrench?) to hold it still whilst re-tightening the
cinch nut. Unless you are happy measuring tracking yourself, have it done
professionally.
Play (to the degree you say) in steering components is not healthy for driver,
car or onlookers so you should not drive it until repairs are done. However,
if you are not in the car and it has passed you when it fails, you can video
the results and sell the tape to either or all of the following: the insurance
companies, lawyers, T.V. studios, the relatives of the dead occupants or, if
not dead, the occupants. On the other hand, brakes can also discover bodily
leakage functions ....
Hope it helps
Guy R Day
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