Manual Steering Free Play

Manual steering





With the ignition OFF and the wheels in the straight ahead position, turn the steering wheel left and right until wheel resistance is felt. Free play should not exceed 1.18 inches (30 mm) at the wheel rim.
Excessive free play indicates wear in the steering column intermediate shaft universal joints, worn tie rod ends or ball joints, or improper steering gear preload.
To check the steering column joints, grip or feel the lower joint at the floorboard and repeat the free play check. Any free play between the steering wheel and the lower joint at the floorboard, which is clamped to the pinion shaft, is in the steering column assembly. Check the tie rods by raising both wheels off the floor. Check each wheel for wobble. First, check the wheels vertically to verify that front wheel bearings are correctly adjusted; then, check the wheels horizontally while an assistant grips the steering column lower joint from inside the vehicle. If horizontal wobble is present, check the tie rod ends for free play or loose attachment to the steering knuckles. If no free play is detected at the tie rod ends, any horizontal wheel wobble must be the result of worn tie rods, ball joints, or excessive gear free play between steering gear rack and pinion. In either case the steering gear must be removed, and adjusted, repaired or replaced to correct the condition.