Does the steering unit have an adjustment to tighten up the steering? I know my old truck - 89 chevy - had a 5/8 nut with an allen wrench set screw in it that would allow for slack adjustment. The car is a little "drifty" feeling. I pulled off the plastic cover on the steering shaft and noticed that the rubber piece is like new. The car is a 95 and has 62k miles. Front susp. is all stock except for a stb. Please help.. Advise appreciated.

 

There is a bushing in the colum. It wears out and causes very dangerous play in the wheel. Open your hood and keep car off but have a friend turn the wheel back and forth. Look at the bushing in colum. You prob will see the play coming from there. Its called a rag joint. Search for rag joint eliminator. Someone makes a solid piece to replace it.

 

yes, the rag joint wears out and gets sloppy, espeically if you have headers.

 

I believe he checked the rag joint[the rubber piece he refers to]
Try this compliments of shoebox' site:
http://shbox.com/1/4th_gen_tech2.html#rack_preload

 

anyone try to adjust the play in the pinoin when adjusting the rack hasn't worked?

 

I adjust the rack pre-load, which I believe is what you are talking about. It is pre-set from the factory, but can become loose as the rack wears. It's VERY tricky to get set right, and typically takes me 2-6 tries to get it exactly where I want it.

Be sure to mark the original position of the pre-set hex on the rack, and make small adjustments; and be SURE to tighten the lock-nut after you make your adjustments.

 

No Rack adjustment is fine.. I can take it down so hard you can't turn the steeringwheel easily.

The play is in the pinion. YOu can see it move when you shake the steering wheel.

Example. You can have the rack adjustemnt and spring compeletly out.. Then turn the wheel from side to side and observe no rack movement but pinion

Theres a dust cap on the bottom that I have a feeling controls the dept of the pinion into the rack. I believe i'll try to mess with that.

 

Man, I feel kinda dumb still not understanding exactly where and how to adjust this. I installed my heads, cam, rearend, and many other mods, including programming and all related things... - anyway, I noticed a pressed metal kinda nut underneath where the steering shaft goes into the rack - towards the ground and slightly facing forward towards the front of the car. It does not look like it turns, but I know better than to just start wrenching on it.. The rubber piece that is down low on the steering shaft inside the stock little plastic snap-on cover is in perfect shape. The little u-joints seem tight also...
By looking at the drawing (awesome by the way, thanks!) is looks like the "slack adjustment setscrew" is toward the passenger side on the backside of the rack like facing the passenger seat. (kinda under the power steering pump..) I couldn't see part # 30 in the drawing..
The steering wheel has about 3/4" or so of slack, which is not too disturbing for me, but what is disturbing is that if I'm going 60 or faster and the road level changes the car drifts. NOT COOL!! I'm really hoping that a small turn of a hopefully existing setscrew will bring the slightly worn gears closer together and remove some of this slack..

Hopefully this can help others too.. since I have searched but not found any good answers on this...

On another note, I want to say WOW, I haven't been on here in a couple years and I am amazed at the improvements and growth. Most of what I have done to my car came from advise from people like you, and my car absolutely kicks - even after 1.5 years of NO MODS - still runs the same E.T.
My old name was ZFever'95 for anyone that may remember.
next mod coming soon - front sway bar.

Thanks again to all and it's great to be back on board. I can see that things have gotten better!!

- Tim