I've noticed recently that the steering on my 1987 Firebird seemed to be a bit sloppy/vague. I fitted Transam wheels a couple of years ago which were wider than the standard wheels (I think mine was a base model), and noticed straight away that the car followed the white lines more. I don't remember noticing that the steering felt vague though, until recently. When travelling in a straight line, I seem to have to move the wheel more before anything happpens ie between 12 o'clock and 2.
I've just had a look under the car while the wheel is being moved, and when the engine is off there seems to be play in the power steering unit. ie the shaft moves going into it, but nothing happens the other side. It also seems to make a slight clonky noise. However, with the engine running there seems to be hardly any play. THe lower arms move pretty much as soon as the input shaft turns. I also felt all the joints, and there doesn't seem to be any movement in them either, including the rubber disc joint just above the power steering unit.
The car seems much more responsive on flat concrete road surfaces, and I think a lot of the vagueness is due to the ruts/ridges in the tarmac roads I drive on caused by large trucks/lorries. But compared to my other car (1994 Ford Thunderbird) there is a lot more play in the steering on the Firebird. I apppreciate that the Thunderbird has a steering rack and will therefore be better.
Does this sound normal, or does it sound like I may have a problem somewhere?
I've just had a look under the car while the wheel is being moved, and when the engine is off there seems to be play in the power steering unit. ie the shaft moves going into it, but nothing happens the other side. It also seems to make a slight clonky noise. However, with the engine running there seems to be hardly any play. THe lower arms move pretty much as soon as the input shaft turns. I also felt all the joints, and there doesn't seem to be any movement in them either, including the rubber disc joint just above the power steering unit.
The car seems much more responsive on flat concrete road surfaces, and I think a lot of the vagueness is due to the ruts/ridges in the tarmac roads I drive on caused by large trucks/lorries. But compared to my other car (1994 Ford Thunderbird) there is a lot more play in the steering on the Firebird. I apppreciate that the Thunderbird has a steering rack and will therefore be better.
Does this sound normal, or does it sound like I may have a problem somewhere?
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