1978 Ranchero - Steering Wheel Seems Very Loose
Jul 5, 2011
I just picked up a 1978 ranchero, and the steering wheel seems very loose. Lots of play in it.
View 2 RepliesI just picked up a 1978 ranchero, and the steering wheel seems very loose. Lots of play in it.
View 2 RepliesI think the yellow colored thing is a clip but it isn't latching onto anything and I try to force it up but it just moves back. Here's a pic. It's right below the ignition start button and is below the steering wheel column.
View 2 RepliesGirlfriend went to start her car on a nice cold day, and said it wouldn't turn over. so after taking her to work, i tried to see what the issue was . . . and the key wont move. the steering wheel is loose, i used the transmission override to move the stick back and forth a few times. still no go.
Did the hammer tap on the key, and used electronics cleaner on the switch in case something was stuck.
Oddity was, the door ajar chimes come on without the key inserted. So am I chasing electrical gremlins or what? the car is a base model without keyless entry.
2000 Honda Civic DX, green, four doors, 91,000 miles. A few weeks ago I noticed that the steering wheel was loose when driving but only about 30% of the time--didn't seem to be related to whether the car was warmed up or time of day or speed, just that it happened when the car was moving. The steering wheel would have play when the wheels were pointed/driving straight and the looseness went away when turning. I brought it in to the mechanic and of course he couldn't get it to happen when he drove it. Replaced worn inner tie rods, did a power steering flush/replaced the power steering fluid and did a front end alignment. Drove fine for two weeks but then it started occurring again, this time even more loose/more play in the steering, still only when driving straight. Oh, just one time (so far) a few days ago it was loose when I was standing still at a stop light.
View 10 RepliesI have a 2010 Elantra GLS with a loose steering wheel. When you hold the wheel, it can be moved about 1/2 inch up, down, left or right. The issue appears to be in the column, because the intermediate shaft joint under the dash does not move, i.e., no slop whatsoever from that point down. The front suspension is as tight as can be, the car just turned 40k. Im thinking maybe something with the tilt mechanism?
View 4 RepliesI just drove a car I'm looking to buy and the steering wheel was pretty loose. Not jerky, just sloppy.
I can tell it needs an alignment, but what could I be looking at in order to tighten it up?
I've learned that front ends can get pricey pretty quick.
So I have a loose wire to my steering wheel controls. They don't light up anymore and when I smack the back of the wheel, they will light momentarily. Also, 2 of the radio buttons work intermittently. How do I access them?
View 8 RepliesI have some big time slop in my steering wheel, and what started as a type of binding when turning sometimes, is now really sloppy - almost dangerous
Is this the intermediate steering shaft? I just want to be 100% sure that I get the right thing before I buy it, as it's a dealer only part.
Just bought a 1999 F250 7.3 cab and a half standard 266k miles. The steering wheel is really loose. Not loose as in turning the wheel to turn the tires but like moment up and down and side to side. Are there bearings to replace?
View 4 RepliesI purchased a 2006 Lariat crew cab 4x4 back in early feb... since then, I've been on the Interstates a little more than usual ( traveling back home.. dad had a surgery 3 hours away) . . . anyway, the truck gets kinda loose feeling when coming onto bridges and off of them, almost like the back end is swaying and the tires are leaving the ground in the front.. my steering wheel gets loose for a split sec. When I bought the truck I wrote this off as bad tires.. it had some over inflated BFG stock looking tires and where too small.
now, I have new wheels and new tires one size up on the tire. While the ride is great off any bumps.. the second I hit a bump it gets squirmy... I had a guy look at the shocks, he said the seemed ok.. could it be possible to have the wrong shocks on ?
My 2004 crew 4x4 did not do this.. so I know its not a characteristic of the truck. Tired of feeling like I am driving on ice... which is how I lost my 04. My first guess was the Shocks... I bought a level kit for my 04 and never got to put it on... so, it may work out to replace them while I am at it.
I took delivery of a brand new 2014 4X4 Lariat this weekend . While driving home I noticed that the leather on the steering wheel was loose and wrinkled around the lower right spoke of the steering wheel. It looks like the adhesive they use to glue the leather to the wheel was never applied to that portion of the wheel. It's so loose that I can press it with my thumb and double the leather over...
View 13 RepliesMy 2010 6.4 F250 seems has a loose steering wheel. The steering of the truck hasn't changed nor has there been uneven wear on the tires. It doesn't drift if I let the steering wheel go. Had the front end inspected and was told it's all good under there.
YET, my actual steering wheel is loose. I can grab the wheel and wiggle it front to back and side to side. It FEELS like the bolts that hold the steering wheel to the column are loose. What was the cause/repair? Is this something I can repair myself or a local shop? Or is this a dealer fix?
I have a F250 SD with a 6.0 diesel. My steering wheel is loose. I tested and know for sure is not a problem inside the cabin. Fallow the line thru the linkage to the steering box by the left front wheel. I found an adjustable switch there. Just on top of the steering box. It has a lock nut that must be loosen to adjust what it looks like a hex. Very hard to reach. I have watch some Youtube videos but on different vehicles.
View 1 Replies1994 Chevrolet silverado 2WD 350/V8 ... I've been too focused on the loose steering and now there is a grinding noise feel on the steering wheel when I'm driving straight and above 20 mph. I jacked up the front end of the truck and after wiggling the front tires at 12:00 and 6:00, I can feel a slight movement at both front wheels. Is it a telltale sign the wheel bearings has failed. Note that I am deaf and can't hear any growling/grinding but I certainly can feel the grinding feel on my steering wheel. Wheel bearings it is?
View 19 RepliesWhile I was trying to park, I heard a clunk, wheels stayed in the same position. The steering wheel is loose as hell, it literally feels like its buttered up and wont turn the wheels at all, what to buy to fix it? I am thinking I just need a new gearbox....
View 6 RepliesI have a '99 F250 w/ PSD with 165k miles.
When I drive, I move the steering wheel and nothing happens for the first few degrees of turn and then I encounter resistence and it turns. It's the same either way. The vehicle seems to track nicely, doesn't pull to either side, just a lot of slop in the steering wheel.
Is there a way to determine if this is really steering related or is it just loose/worn front end suspension parts making themselves known? My guess is suspension items, but the fact the front end behaves itself when the truck is moving has me doubting that just a bit.
Got my new truck last week and the steering is awful. Loose as a goose. Every bump that you hit jerks the steering wheel around. I changed the tires from the factory 80psi down to 60 for the front and 65 for the rear, didn't work much. On some big bumps it acts like I am losing control. It reminds me of the death wobble on my old 05 F250 which was 4wd. I thought that the 2wd independent suspension would be smoother.
It's got a sway bar up front can I add a steering stabilizer? If so who makes one? Everything else about the truck is great. The new 6.7 is quiet as a mouse and powerful. So far fuel economy is the same as my ecoboost. Haven't got to tow with it yet.
I have a nice 2000 Durango 4x4 SLT, automatic. I have some problems.
1) The drivers door outside latch will not open the door, the inside latch works fine.
2) The shifter on the transfer case is loose, it appears that the drive was left in 2wd since I have been able to use it. But it will not shift?
3) The steering wheel feels like it has a lot of play in it, also feels like a knuckle is in it when I turn it. It sometimes slips on turns at speed?
Starting about a year ago, "sometimes" when I step on the brakes and am turning the steering wheel, I loose the power steering. I took it to Ford and they said that this is a a known issue but they didn't say what it would take to fix it. Because this problem is intermittent it is very hard to get this fixed unless the mechanic can experience and verify the problem for himself...
View 14 RepliesI have a loose, binding, metal on metal sound on my steering wheel shaft. I have removed the steering wheel, replaced the clockspring, because when I removed wheel clockspring was in pieces and I thought that might be the issue. Guess not, because I'm still having problem. Other than having to remove or replace the whole steering column...
View 2 RepliesMy 289 has had the following done: Rebuilt and cleaned the Carb, inside and out. Dropped the tank, acid bath cleaned and sealed Cleaned and restored the sending unit All new gas line filters (twice) for a total of 4 new filters, the gas is pristine by the time it get to carb. new points, new condenser, new plugs, new rotor... all gaped correctly (checked twice) new oil, new filter. Brand new fuel pump. Checked and Tightened and Re-Tightened all the bolts, plugs wire, bolts nuts.
The car will sit there and Idle if I don't touch anything, but stalls when I give it gas. I have also tried to check for vacuum leaks using both the carb cleaner way AND the propane method. Now I will say that both sides of my exhaust manifold pipes are falling off, slightly so it is hard to hear for vacuum leaks. Would that cause a car to stall? or Am I missing a very simple step?
67' Ford Ranchero (289 V8)