98 V70 NA 156,000 miles - play in steering

Post by **98v70dad** » 20 Oct 2016, 11:32

There is some slop in my steering that I can feel when I raise the front end and put the car on jack stands. If I hold onto the passenger side wheel at 3 and 9 o'clock and try to turn it the wheel will move a little. Then I hear a steel on steel sound (clunk) and the movement stops. There's maybe 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch of play at the wheel. EVERYTHING in the front suspension is new including the inner and outer tie rods, control arms, control rods, struts and associated hardware, etc. Everything replaced was top quality OE parts. I get about the same play from either of the front wheels.

I have no leaks from the steering rack and its hard for me to believe that the rack or pinion gear would be damaged or worn enough to cause the movement I have. The steering works fine. This leads me to suspect the universal joint at the forward end of the steering column might have some play in it. Is it possible for that connection (splined and bolted I would guess) to come loose and allow some play? Its really buried down there and tough to see.

Post by **850 LPT** » 20 Oct 2016, 12:11

It's uncommon that these universal joints show wear but certainly not impossible. Anything mechanical can wear out.

I am looking into this part myself on the 850 and want to find out how to replace it. My problem is a little different though. When I go through fast curves, my steering feels like it is intermittently binding and I wonder if the u-joint is the culprit.
Everything else is fine. It tracks straight on the highway, no play anywhere, no leaks, no uneven tire wear etc.

I will get under the dash as soon as I get a chance.

Dirk

Herb Goltz · Post by **Herb Goltz** » 20 Oct 2016, 13:27

I had a worn out lower steering u-joint on a '92 245 I used to own-- the car was all over the road at highway speeds. It wasn't binding, but it had a lot of play that resulted in over-correction when steering.

Post by **kahl** » 20 Oct 2016, 14:51

I would try to follow the clunk. Duplicate the sound while feeling the steering rack, then the base of the steering wheel shaft at the floor inside the car. Clunk should resonate thru the worn component. I would also check the pinch bolt on the spindal is thru the machined portion of the ball joint shaft.

Post by **sleddriver** » 20 Oct 2016, 15:18

I would suggest repeating your test while having someone hold the SW while seated.

Post by **98v70dad** » 20 Oct 2016, 15:26

kahl wrote:I would try to follow the clunk. Duplicate the sound while feeling the steering rack, then the base of the steering wheel shaft at the floor inside the car. Clunk should resonate thru the worn component. I would also check the pinch bolt on the spindal is thru the machined portion of the ball joint shaft.

This play showed up after getting new tires about 18 months ago. My steering wheel was one spline off after I removed and replaced it in order to change out my ignition switch cylinder. I was living with it with no problem. After I got new tires my steering wheel was straight - perfect. I'm suspecting that maybe the mechanic loosened the pinch bolt and straightened out my steering wheel and then didn't get it all back together correctly or tight. The slight play in the steering started as a new problem on the drive home after getting those tires. I would have taken it back but I didn't put two and two together until recently.

I'm not at all familiar with that universal joint - its really tough to get a view of it.