Soft steering????

[lsdarkshadow]

My steering seems real floaty. It could just be that I have been driving the wifes pathfinder too much lately, but I recently had the tie rods replaced, and a professional alignment done. It drives straight as an arrow. I can drive no handed and brake no handed and there is no pull .....but the wheel just seems to have way to much play in the steering.

Any thoughts?? 2001 V8

 

[joegr]

Tires can be a big factor here.
With the car stopped. Stand out and look at the driver's side wheel while turning the steering wheel. You shouldn't be able to move the steering wheel without the front wheel moving too.
You can use a mirror for the passenger side wheel.

 

[lsdarkshadow]

Brand new tires. Still have the ink in the tread. I can move the wheel while driving without the wheels moving because the car won't move. There is almost 2 inches of play in the wheel while driving and a little less while parked... no idea.

 

[joegr]

The next step is to have someone move the steering wheel while you are under the front looking at the steering parts. The slack will either be in the steering linkages or in the rack. I would suspect the rack.
(There are also some parts in the steering column that can be worn and loose, but I can't imagine them being as bad as you describe.)

The comment about the tires didn't have to do with age or wear, it had to do with the thread pattern and the rubber compounds used. Anyway, you've ruled that one out by the test above.

 

[2000sport]

Check the bushings on the steering rack mount... and the set screw on the intermediate steering shaft. Both have resulted in either a soft steering feel, or a large dead zone on center.

 

[lsdarkshadow]

I don't suppose anyone has a diagram of this to make the hunting job easier??

 

[2000sport]

look under the car while its running, have someone steer... if you see the rack move back and forth, its probably the mounts/bushings.

pop the hood. what the steering shaft between the 2 Ujoints.

Watch for play where the 2 shafts join (which is about 3" above the bottom Ujoint.)

 

[lsdarkshadow]

Where could one buy these magic bushings?

 

[2000sport]

I think the bushings are built into the rack (someone correct me)...

but you may still need to tighten/replace the bolt/nut (x3) that go thru the rack and into the lower subframe.