Steering wheel play question
 

I tried searching a few forums to see if there were any posts about this but I could not find anything relevant.

Anyways,

I bought my DC4 about 8 months ago, it came with a poorly installed momo corse steering wheel. I replaced that and put a stock wheel back on, reset the airbags and what not.

I was getting vibrations at highway speeds so I replaced my ball joints, outer tie rod ends and front wheel bearings, as well as getting an alignment after. Now there are no vibrations but I have a bit of play in the steering wheel, when I am on the highway I notice it the most. If I move the wheel side to side a few degrees there is no resistance whatsoever.

It feels weird when I am going around a long bend as well, because I am still turning but I can wiggle the wheel back and forth a few degrees (not a lot, but enough for me to notice it feels funny).

I am not sure if it is a rack problem or what. I have upper control arms that I am going to replace once I find someplace where I can do it (no garage) and I have inner tie rods (didnt replace those because they looked fine).

If anyone has any idea of what to do please let me know. I plan on doing an engine, suspension and brake swap in the spring so if I need a new rack I will do it then too.

Thanks,

Chris

This maybe off topic to some but i have noticed a difference between DC racks between the two different year changes.

I have two friends;

1 drives a 97 DC2 GSR, has the same freeplay that you describe a loose steering wheel feeling with free play about 1.5cm.

1 drives a 98 DC2 GSR, has a tighter feeling steering wheel, still has free play about the same 1.5cm, but you can dramatically feel where the free play stops and the actual turning will begin. Which the best way to describe it as a "tighter" feel.

Now a lot of you guys might say, "oh there could be a lot of other factors as well, such as blah, blah, blah." etc.

They are brothers,
each teg was bought brand new.
each driven very very little, they both take the bus to work.
I drove them both when they had about 60000 kms on them.
both tegs are stock...

I've noticed this between the cars. Has anyone else noticed this?
I hope this helps you out.....

it feels like a little bit more than 1.5 centimeters, more like 1.5cm each way.

I see an itr steering rack for sale for sale, but before I go spending any money I am going to see if I can get some more feedback.

Thanks,

Chris

could be play between the rack and pinion gear, a u-joint in the steeing column, inner tie rods on the rack.