Well, today I got the answer I was looking for, and I didn't like it.

Last night I decided to see if I could get the last bit of slop out, so I adjusted it a bit more. Well, it took some of it out, but the steering is now definitely too stiff.

As far as I can tell, there is something worn in the gear that adjusting will not fix. Could those washers you mentioned be to blame?

The symptoms now are a bit different. Even though the steering is now very stiff (I will loosen it soon), There is still a spot in the center where there is play, and no resistance at all. So, there's almost an inch of play with the engine running and driving straight. Now that the gear adjusted so stiff, you can really feel the difference between the slop zone, and when your steering input actually moves the wheels. It's NOT in the flex joint or in the steering column, I have carefully checked that out and it's perfectly snug.

Today was the perfect day for a test drive, very strong gusts of wind on my drive to work. Stronger gusts than we've had in a long while. The car did hold its place on the road better, but it seems that as long as the steering wheel is in the "slop zone", which is now much smaller, the car can wander around. When driving around gradual turns at speed, you can tell that the car doesn't want to wander while the wheel is turned past the slop zone.

I guess I need to start looking for another gear, or consider doing a re-seal and washer replace.

Does anyone know if these washers will help my issue, or is my steering gear just shot?


Thanks!


-tp