"Wayne K." > wrote in message
news:7IwCe.116876$yV4.7709@okepread03...
>
> "Mike G" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Wayne K." > wrote in message
> > news:l2wCe.116875$yV4.105976@okepread03...
> >> Hello All,
> >> I spent the better part of yesterday looking over a 93 325IS that a
> >> friend is considering purchasing.
> >> The only real issue I found with it was "excessive" steering wheel
> > play.
> >> We could move the wheel almost a full inch with no change in the
> > orientation
> >> of the tires.
> >> The car has just over 110k miles on the clock. The owner showed us
> >> receipts to back up his claim of around $800.00 in front end work about
4
> >> months ago. (New control arms with new ball joints, tie rods, control
arm
> >> bushings, alignment, etc)
> >
> > That still leaves the rack and all the linkages in the steering column.
> > Any
> > of which could be worn enough to give play at the s/wheel.
> > Is it all play?
> > Does the s/wheel stay where you leave it, anywhere in the area of play,
or
> > does it return to a central position?
> > You'll allways feel a certain amount of movement, before the wheels move
> > when a car is stationary. If you don't notice it on the road, it might
not
> > be an issue.
> > Mike.
> >
>
>
> Mike,
> Thanks for responding. There was similar play while driving. I checked
> the rack for leaks etc, it looked good. (But we all know looks can be
> deceiving.)
>
> Where is the linkage in the steering column?

I'm not familiar with the 325 in particular but I've no doubt there are
u/j's or equivalents on the column, with couplings, to the shaft, and then
there's the coupling to the rack itself. It's not common, but not unknown
for such couplings to become loose.
Mike.