Freeplay in steering.

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?

Reply to
Alf Loizeaux
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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.

Reply to
Lanny Chambers

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

Reply to
KWS

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

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

Reply to
Leon van Dommelen

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.

Reply to
Lanny Chambers

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.

Alf Loizeaux wrote:

Reply to
Scott

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

Reply to
Leon van Dommelen

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