Freeplay in steering.
 

My '92 Miata has about 3/8" to 1/2" freeplay in the steering wheel at all
positions of rotation (measured with the car at rest).
My service mechanic says that he can find no loose parts and no play in the
steering linkages. He believes that the play is in either the rack and
pinion or in the lower universal joint of the steering shaft.
The Mazda dealer says that the lower steering shaft, which includes the
universal joint is no longer manufactured.
Does anyone have experience with this problem?
Is there a wear problem with the universal joint or steering rack?

In article >,
(Leon van Dommelen) wrote:

> The only steering adjustment I see under alignment is maximum
> steering angle. Not steering wheel play.

In my 1994 manual, the adjustment for pinion-rack clearance is on page
N-32 (power steering). Since it's free, I'd check this first before
replacing suspension parts. Someone wrote up the procedure several years
ago in miataforum, as well. Of course, other parts may also be worn and
contribute to wheel play.

--
Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
'94C
the alignment page:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

I am probably way off base here, cuz I don't know that much about cars,
but I had what I think is a similar problem in my '91. I corrected the
problem by removing some air from the power steering system. I read in
one of my repair manuals, not factory, a simple method of removing air.
If I remember correctly, and I probably don't, I removed the cap from
where you place power steering fluid, turned the engine one, and turned
the steering wheel gently back and forth. I don't remember if I turned
the wheel completely to one side or not, but I did it several times,
turned off the engine, replaced the cap, and went for a ride. The
problem disappeared. If I remember, my original complaint was that when
driving the car the steering felt very sloppy, not as crisp as it once
was. Now it is back to normal.



Alf Loizeaux wrote:
> My '92 Miata has about 3/8" to 1/2" freeplay in the steering wheel at all
> positions of rotation (measured with the car at rest).
> My service mechanic says that he can find no loose parts and no play in the
> steering linkages. He believes that the play is in either the rack and
> pinion or in the lower universal joint of the steering shaft.
> The Mazda dealer says that the lower steering shaft, which includes the
> universal joint is no longer manufactured.
> Does anyone have experience with this problem?
> Is there a wear problem with the universal joint or steering rack?
>
>



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Lanny Chambers > wrote:

>In article >,
> (Leon van Dommelen) wrote:
>
>> The only steering adjustment I see under alignment is maximum
>> steering angle. Not steering wheel play.
>
>In my 1994 manual, the adjustment for pinion-rack clearance is on page
>N-32 (power steering).

The manual does not list this is a possible cause of steering wheel
play. It only seems to affect the torque to move the rack.

Leon

> Since it's free, I'd check this first before
>replacing suspension parts. Someone wrote up the procedure several years
>ago in miataforum, as well. Of course, other parts may also be worn and
>contribute to wheel play.

--
Leon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)