Freeplay in steering.

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Alf Loizeaux - 26 Oct 2004 23:46 GMT

My '92 Miata has about 3/8" to 1/2" freeplay in the steering wheel at all
positions of rotation (measured with the car at rest).
My service mechanic says that he can find no loose parts and no play in the
steering linkages. He believes that the play is in either the rack and
pinion or in the lower universal joint of the steering shaft.
The Mazda dealer says that the lower steering shaft, which includes the
universal joint is no longer manufactured.
Does anyone have experience with this problem?
Is there a wear problem with the universal joint or steering rack?

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Lanny Chambers - 27 Oct 2004 03:10 GMT

> My '92 Miata has about 3/8" to 1/2" freeplay in the steering wheel at all
> positions of rotation (measured with the car at rest).

Your dealer really should know better. The shop manual details how to
remove the play with the adjusting nut provided for the purpose. Too
hard to describe it here.

Signature

Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
'94C
the alignment page:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

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Leon van Dommelen - 28 Oct 2004 15:04 GMT

>> My '92 Miata has about 3/8" to 1/2" freeplay in the steering wheel at all
>> positions of rotation (measured with the car at rest).

My '95 Mazda Workshop Manual lists free play as 0 to 1.18". Your
numbers are still in that range.

>Your dealer really should know better. The shop manual details how to
>remove the play with the adjusting nut provided for the purpose. Too
>hard to describe it here.

My Workshop Manual does not have it. Under "excessive steering wheel
play" trouble shooting, it only has worn steering gear, worn or damaged
steering joints, worn or damaged suspension arm bushings, worn
linkage or ball joint (replace) and loose steering wheel mounting
bolts (tighten).

The only steering adjustment I see under alignment is maximum
steering angle. Not steering wheel play.

Leon

Signature

Leon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
rammm@dommelen.net http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

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Lanny Chambers - 28 Oct 2004 15:20 GMT

> The only steering adjustment I see under alignment is maximum
> steering angle. Not steering wheel play.

In my 1994 manual, the adjustment for pinion-rack clearance is on page
N-32 (power steering). Since it's free, I'd check this first before
replacing suspension parts. Someone wrote up the procedure several years
ago in miataforum, as well. Of course, other parts may also be worn and
contribute to wheel play.

Signature

Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
'94C
the alignment page:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

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Leon van Dommelen - 29 Oct 2004 01:28 GMT

>> The only steering adjustment I see under alignment is maximum
>> steering angle. Not steering wheel play.
>
>In my 1994 manual, the adjustment for pinion-rack clearance is on page
>N-32 (power steering).

The manual does not list this is a possible cause of steering wheel
play. It only seems to affect the torque to move the rack.

Leon

> Since it's free, I'd check this first before
>replacing suspension parts. Someone wrote up the procedure several years
>ago in miataforum, as well. Of course, other parts may also be worn and
>contribute to wheel play.

Signature

Leon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
rammm@dommelen.net http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

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KWS - 28 Oct 2004 05:26 GMT

One of the criticisms of the Miata is the sensitivity to input when driving
straight ahead. I would suspect that a lot of play would encourage constant
correction, which should drive just about anyone crazy as the car is indeed
sensitive in this manner.

My question is: are you experiencing such problems, or other "play" related
problems when driving? If the answer is "no", then I would not worry so much
about the measured freeplay.

If it is a problem, you might want to first do as Leon suggested. Get hold
of a shop manual or reasonable facsimile and see if it responds to a simple
(or not so simple) adjustment.

Ken

> My '92 Miata has about 3/8" to 1/2" freeplay in the steering wheel at all
> positions of rotation (measured with the car at rest).
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Does anyone have experience with this problem?
> Is there a wear problem with the universal joint or steering rack?

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Scott - 28 Oct 2004 22:10 GMT

I am probably way off base here, cuz I don't know that much about cars,
but I had what I think is a similar problem in my '91. I corrected the
problem by removing some air from the power steering system. I read in
one of my repair manuals, not factory, a simple method of removing air.
If I remember correctly, and I probably don't, I removed the cap from
where you place power steering fluid, turned the engine one, and turned
the steering wheel gently back and forth. I don't remember if I turned
the wheel completely to one side or not, but I did it several times,
turned off the engine, replaced the cap, and went for a ride. The
problem disappeared. If I remember, my original complaint was that when
driving the car the steering felt very sloppy, not as crisp as it once
was. Now it is back to normal.

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