Sloppy steering...FIXED
Sloppy steering...FIXED
If your Crossfire lurches over "tar snakes" or grooves in the pavement and you have changed the steering dampener to no affect, it is probably the steering shaft cinch bolts.
There are two such cinch bolts on the steering column. One is under the dash, the other is where the steering shaft bolts up to the steering gear. I found the one under the dash to be the culprit - the one by the steering box was quite tight.
To tighten it, you may have to remove the bottom most black plastic cover underneath the dash - use the instructions in the Sticky Key Fix article to remove the dash panel (excellent write up.)
The cinch bolt is an allen head bolt (see the picture.) I simply tightened mine up as firmly as possible without over tightening. I have not checked the Repair manual to see if there is a torque specification, but if I find one, I will add to this post.
In addition to eliminating the "hunting" that the steering used to do on irregular pavement, it has also straightened my steering wheel somewhat. It is not perfectly straight, but I think that may also be due to a loose front axle locking nut. I changed the front brake pads recently and was able to feel slight play when tugging on the left side rotor. I didn't have enough time then to pull the grease cap and check the bearing play, but I will be doing it soon and I expect that tightening up the wheel bearings properly will remove the remaining bit of slack in the front end.
There are two such cinch bolts on the steering column. One is under the dash, the other is where the steering shaft bolts up to the steering gear. I found the one under the dash to be the culprit - the one by the steering box was quite tight.
To tighten it, you may have to remove the bottom most black plastic cover underneath the dash - use the instructions in the Sticky Key Fix article to remove the dash panel (excellent write up.)
The cinch bolt is an allen head bolt (see the picture.) I simply tightened mine up as firmly as possible without over tightening. I have not checked the Repair manual to see if there is a torque specification, but if I find one, I will add to this post.
In addition to eliminating the "hunting" that the steering used to do on irregular pavement, it has also straightened my steering wheel somewhat. It is not perfectly straight, but I think that may also be due to a loose front axle locking nut. I changed the front brake pads recently and was able to feel slight play when tugging on the left side rotor. I didn't have enough time then to pull the grease cap and check the bearing play, but I will be doing it soon and I expect that tightening up the wheel bearings properly will remove the remaining bit of slack in the front end.
Last edited by Valk; 12-04-2013 at 09:28 PM. Reason: adjusted photo size
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Kraig (12-26-2020)
Re: Sloppy steering….FIXED
I like the big picture.
My steering/handling has been all over the road in grooves and over the center stripe like you are explaining since I've owned it, stabilizer replacement didn't change it, I think I try this before new lower ball joints or looking into replacement adjustable rear suspension linkages.
My steering/handling has been all over the road in grooves and over the center stripe like you are explaining since I've owned it, stabilizer replacement didn't change it, I think I try this before new lower ball joints or looking into replacement adjustable rear suspension linkages.
Re: Sloppy steering...FIXED
Has anyone tried this on an SRT-6? I tried to find that bolt today on my 2005, but no luck. I even tried extending/pushing the wheel back. Was really trying to find an annoying mouse squeak when the steering wheel is turned very little (few mm?) but I figured I would go behind the airbag last. Noise seems to happen whether steering wheel is fully extended or in.
Last edited by Plzdontsideswipeme; 03-09-2014 at 09:50 PM.
Re: Sloppy steering...FIXED
Hi,
Could you help pinpoint the sloppy bolt regarding the wheel steering under the hood?
I did tie up the one , a few times, under the dash""
It feels tight for a few weeks and get bad again. IT IS KILLING ME and feel a bit dangerous to drive with such a sloppy feeling.
Please help
Thank You
Max
Could you help pinpoint the sloppy bolt regarding the wheel steering under the hood?
I did tie up the one , a few times, under the dash""
It feels tight for a few weeks and get bad again. IT IS KILLING ME and feel a bit dangerous to drive with such a sloppy feeling.
Please help
Thank You
Max
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Central South Carolina
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Re: Sloppy steering...FIXED
Hi Steph, I am sure I read this somewhere in the service manual. Have you downloaded the free (yes FREE) service manual from the forum document collection? It is probably in the suspension section but I am sure you can find the reference by doing a search within the .pdf file for steering box play (or the like). I am not too sure there would be a 'forum' reference where a member posted, but you can also try that search route here in the forum as well. I do not think it is that easy to 'tighten' up the play but I also don't have any experience in this platform with adjusting the steering box play. Good luck!
.
Re: Sloppy steering...FIXED
Can the bolt under the dash be used to straighten a slightly crooked steering wheel ? In other words, if the steering wheel isn't exactly level when going straight. So if that bolt is loosened, it allows the steering wheel to move independent of the shaft while being adjusted ? That sounds crazy dangerous if people find that loose occasionally ! My wheel is ever so slightly off, and I am thinking of checking to make sure the bolt is tight in the first place (for safety), then seeing if I can make a slight adjustment.
Re: Sloppy steering...FIXED
Hi GG! And thanks for the information!
Yes I have the documentation, and this WE I bought 2 ramps in order to look under the car. And I found that the play in the steering wheel is coming for the steering box itself.
Now I have to understand if the play can be adjusted, I saw on the web literature that most of the boxes have one screw to perform this adjustment. What about the Xfire one!? Who can help me on that!
Thanks in advance,
Steph.
Yes I have the documentation, and this WE I bought 2 ramps in order to look under the car. And I found that the play in the steering wheel is coming for the steering box itself.
Now I have to understand if the play can be adjusted, I saw on the web literature that most of the boxes have one screw to perform this adjustment. What about the Xfire one!? Who can help me on that!
Thanks in advance,
Steph.
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Near Capitol Raceway, Maryland
Age: 39
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Re: Sloppy steering...FIXED
I would like to tighten mine also. The adjustment nut is on the top of the steering gear box in line with the steering shaft. there is no easy way to get to the adjustment screw and jam nut. I recall that the shop manual says that the steering gear box would have to be removed. To do this requires jacking up the engine a bit after undoing all kinds of other stuff. If the adjustment screw with the corresponding jam nut were easy to get to it would be a 5 minute job. I am thinking of cutting a hole in the heat shield to see if I can get to it that way. You can't see it because of the shield. You can feel it from underneath the car.
Re: Sloppy steering...FIXED
I would check the ball joints, bearing preload, damping cylinder etc before I saw this as a quick and cheap cure. I am sure they would wear out and affect the steering sooner.
The steering box wears in the area that sees most use, tightening anything in the worn area can lead to overtightness in the rarely used area if it is anything like an old beater I tried this on.
The steering box wears in the area that sees most use, tightening anything in the worn area can lead to overtightness in the rarely used area if it is anything like an old beater I tried this on.
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