The steering problems, vibration, shimmy, etc. that I experienced with my 260 was corrected by replacing those 2 rubber bushings that hold the rack in place. They become worn - and it allows the rack to move up and down - which messes up your steering and causes a lot of vibration and shimmy. Check those. Make sure you're not getting a lot of play where the rack is mounted.
Worn steering rack?
Hey guys,
I've been reading posts on steering components for the past couple of days, but I still feel compelled to ask for some advice.
Recently my 260z (late) has had steering problems. I've had the car for over a year, and while it's never steered perfectly, it's been a lot worse lately.
I get a fair amount of wander when travelling in a straight line at freeway speeds, and also some vibration at speed. Nothing beyond my control, but still intensely frustrating. Also, I was getting far more bump-steer than normal, as the car wanted to take off in either direction after hitting a bump.
I replaced the lower ball joints last weekend and did an inspection of the other steering components. Tie rod ends look a bit long in the tooth, but do not exhibit any signs of functional wear. Nothing else looked worn to me, so I greased everything up and threw it back together, did a cursory alignment, and went on my merry way.
The steering was very stable for about a day, and then the problems slowly began to emerge again, bad as ever.
I was concerned that I had forgotten to tighten something, so I jacked the car up again and spent some time fiddling with the steering.
Everything seemed nice and tight, and there is no play in any of the ball joints. There is no delay between turning the steering wheel and the movement of the tie rods. Baffling.
HOWEVER, I *did* notice that there was an inconsistency in the middle of the rack travel, when the wheels are facing forward. That is to say, when I am under the car, turning the wheels by hand, I can feel a slight "clunk" coming from the rack when I reach the middle of the travel. Then it smooths out again.
I put my hand on all the steering components when I did this, and the thunk is definitely the most powerful closest to the steering gear housing. This leads me to believe that my rack is worn in that one spot, the center position.
I never had any problems while I was turning, I suppose, so that makes sense.
I tried throwing more grease at it, but no dice. I tightened up the steering gear tensioner (the massive, massive screw), and it made things more stable but did not eliminate that "bad spot."
I'm scheduled to have a real alignment on Tuesday, but I don't want to bring it in just to have them say I need a new rack.
Is it possible that it's ANYTHING but the rack? The only ball joint I've not physically seen is the inner tie rod end on the driver's side. However, the vibration I'm talking about is equally strong on when I put my hand on either side of the steering gear housing.
New rack?
Thanks,
Andrew
I've been reading posts on steering components for the past couple of days, but I still feel compelled to ask for some advice.
Recently my 260z (late) has had steering problems. I've had the car for over a year, and while it's never steered perfectly, it's been a lot worse lately.
I get a fair amount of wander when travelling in a straight line at freeway speeds, and also some vibration at speed. Nothing beyond my control, but still intensely frustrating. Also, I was getting far more bump-steer than normal, as the car wanted to take off in either direction after hitting a bump.
I replaced the lower ball joints last weekend and did an inspection of the other steering components. Tie rod ends look a bit long in the tooth, but do not exhibit any signs of functional wear. Nothing else looked worn to me, so I greased everything up and threw it back together, did a cursory alignment, and went on my merry way.
The steering was very stable for about a day, and then the problems slowly began to emerge again, bad as ever.
I was concerned that I had forgotten to tighten something, so I jacked the car up again and spent some time fiddling with the steering.
Everything seemed nice and tight, and there is no play in any of the ball joints. There is no delay between turning the steering wheel and the movement of the tie rods. Baffling.
HOWEVER, I *did* notice that there was an inconsistency in the middle of the rack travel, when the wheels are facing forward. That is to say, when I am under the car, turning the wheels by hand, I can feel a slight "clunk" coming from the rack when I reach the middle of the travel. Then it smooths out again.
I put my hand on all the steering components when I did this, and the thunk is definitely the most powerful closest to the steering gear housing. This leads me to believe that my rack is worn in that one spot, the center position.
I never had any problems while I was turning, I suppose, so that makes sense.
I tried throwing more grease at it, but no dice. I tightened up the steering gear tensioner (the massive, massive screw), and it made things more stable but did not eliminate that "bad spot."
I'm scheduled to have a real alignment on Tuesday, but I don't want to bring it in just to have them say I need a new rack.
Is it possible that it's ANYTHING but the rack? The only ball joint I've not physically seen is the inner tie rod end on the driver's side. However, the vibration I'm talking about is equally strong on when I put my hand on either side of the steering gear housing.
New rack?
Thanks,
Andrew
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That's a good suggestion, but I did check them when last I was under the car. It looks to me like the PO replaced them with urethane, but I could be wrong. Regardless, the rack is mounted in there pretty solidly and doesn't move on its own.
Thanks,
Andrew
Thanks,
Andrew
I think you have several probs. The tie rod ends, the rack and the strut rod bushings.
Tie rod ends-When you said that you greased these up and the car was better for a while then got worse is a sign that you only used the grease to fill in the worn areas until it was squeezed out.
Rack- if you can feel the thing being loose, enuf said.
Strut rod bushings- These are cheap (rubber only, ~$15-20) and easy to fix and must be done to help and old wandering Z. You may need new collars for about $10 more.
Tie rod ends-When you said that you greased these up and the car was better for a while then got worse is a sign that you only used the grease to fill in the worn areas until it was squeezed out.
Rack- if you can feel the thing being loose, enuf said.
Strut rod bushings- These are cheap (rubber only, ~$15-20) and easy to fix and must be done to help and old wandering Z. You may need new collars for about $10 more.
Thanks for the advice.
Is there another name for 'strut rod bushings?' I can't seem to find them in the motorsport catalog. Insulates the the top of the strut assembly where it mounts to the car?
Thanks,
Andrew
Is there another name for 'strut rod bushings?' I can't seem to find them in the motorsport catalog. Insulates the the top of the strut assembly where it mounts to the car?
Thanks,
Andrew
Re:strut rod bushings
My TRW brand ones came from Vic. Brit. and were called tension rod bushings on the invoice, their no. 62-355, but the same ones from A/Zone, et al may be another TRW no. They go on the strut rod that attaches to the bottom of the front susp. arm and goes back to the frame and is held by a nut. Be sure to chisel out the old crud from the remains of the old bushing or the new one won't fit.
My TRW brand ones came from Vic. Brit. and were called tension rod bushings on the invoice, their no. 62-355, but the same ones from A/Zone, et al may be another TRW no. They go on the strut rod that attaches to the bottom of the front susp. arm and goes back to the frame and is held by a nut. Be sure to chisel out the old crud from the remains of the old bushing or the new one won't fit.
Ah, tension rod bushings have been replaced with Polyurethane.
I'm taking it in to Schwab on Tuesday, so hopefully they'll be able to tell me if my tie rod ends are shot or not. I don't so much want to buy a rebuilt rack, so I might fish one out of the junkyard and rebuild it.
Thanks for all your help, by the way. This is the first time I've had to troubleshoot a steering system.
Cheers,
Andrew
I'm taking it in to Schwab on Tuesday, so hopefully they'll be able to tell me if my tie rod ends are shot or not. I don't so much want to buy a rebuilt rack, so I might fish one out of the junkyard and rebuild it.
Thanks for all your help, by the way. This is the first time I've had to troubleshoot a steering system.
Cheers,
Andrew
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