Play in steering wheel

[Zei220]

Hello, I wonder if you can help? If I hold the UJ and rock the steering wheel I have about half an inch play in the steering wheel. I have checked for play in the top UJ and found none. I have checked for play in the steering wheel hub and found none.
Any suggestions what could be wrong?

TIA.
dave

[JerryL770]

Look at the rubber supports which hold the steering rack. I think if they fail, the rack can move a little without the wheels moving. The safety bolts prevent excessive movement or complete loss of steering with a loose rack.

[Zei220]

Jerry, Thank you for the suggestion, but the rack mounts are new. I think the problem lays in the upper column because when I rock the steering wheel the movement doesn't show at the UJ end,

[mgcjag]

Is it in/out or up/down movement....shouldn't be difficult....its right in front of you....what's moveing..is the adjuster tight.....can you loosen it and slide the wheel in/out ....are the bolts attaching it to the dash/bulkhead tight

[Zei220]

The steering wheel rotates left and right about half an inch. I cant detect any up down movement. It feels very similar the a wheel out of balance. I can hold the UJ and move the wheel back and forward and the UJ doesn't move, so the problem is within the upper column.

[mgcjag]

If the wheel isnt moveing the uj then check if its bolted to the splines or splines worn..time to dismantle ...Steve

[Zei220]

Steve, that was the conclusion I had come to, but I thought I'd ask just in case I had missed something.

[Zei220]

Ok I think I’ve found the problem, there is play in the column where the column is designed to collapse into its self.

[dougal]

Might i suggest that play in the steering wheel is probably caused by over size tyres.

if you fit tyres bigger than 185R15 you are over loading the steering which dramatically increases the rate of wear.

this will also happen if you dont use proper period tyres, such as 185VR15 Dunlop SP Sport, Michelin XVS or Pirelli Cinturato. nothing else is good enough.

205/70VR15 will wear the steerin faster

205/65R15 will wear it even faster.

[Zei220]

Thank you Dougal. I have identified the problem and the solution. The problem was due to the tube with the two flats had started to deform allowing the inner shaft to rotate slightly.

All sorted now.

dave

[johnetype]

I have the same problem; may I ask what your solution was?

[Zei220]

I removed the upper steering column and put a very small weak weld on the outer tube, which removed the play. I removed most of the weld with the angle grinder.