Steering column play

[Ben_D]

Still trying to get to the bottom of my wandering steering. Was under the truck today and noticed play in the steering column / shaft.

If I grab the shaft, I can wobble it from side to side and there is a slight clunk coming from up in the bulkhead somewhere. Is there a bush or bearing that this rotates in and if so does anyone have a part number or advice on replacing it?


Many thanks

Ben

[Kpauto]

steering column has bearings both ends, steering wheel and down near your feet, i just repaired an astra with that bottom bearing literaly vanished and sterring wheel moving, about three inches and it creates no play in the steering, only a very disconcerting feeling! you have a 3rd gen so it only has a rack plus suspension, what have you done so far?

[BUSHWHACKER]

Still trying to get to the bottom of my wandering steering. Was under the truck today and noticed play in the steering column / shaft.

If I grab the shaft, I can wobble it from side to side and there is a slight clunk coming from up in the bulkhead somewhere. Is there a bush or bearing that this rotates in and if so does anyone have a part number or advice on replacing it?


Many thanks

Ben

You can move it about because of the flexible rubber (rag) joint, It's pupose is to take any shocks out of the steering column when off-roading.

[Ben_D]

Cheers for that.

I don't think it is the rag joint as I was watching that as I was lying beneath the truck whilst moving the shaft from side to side or back and forth without rotating it. Clunk is coming from somewhere up in the bulkhead and there is about 1/2 - 3/4" movement when rocked side to side as if a bush or something that the column rotates in is goosed although there is little play to be felt through steering when the steering wheel is moved from side to side.
If rocking drivers side wheel when off the ground, it makes a clunk that appears to be coming from the shaft and there is a little side to side play in the wheel (none when rocked vertically). When rocking the wheel, everything is tight as far up as the column and it can be seen to move slightly. Does that make sense?

Replaced rack for recon one with new bushes, all ball joints, track rod ends, shocks, springs & top mounts, drop links, ARB bushes and had a full alignment so far.

Cheers

Ben

[gary-r]

might be wrong but check the mounting on the steering column itself inside the car before you pull it to bits.

if its not broken/loose i would pull the shaft out and check if a bush/bearing is goosed. older stuff used to have plastic bushes in the column that went egg shaped and fell to bits - not sure whats in yours as iv'e never stripped one.

[Kpauto]

ahh, takes me back to sierra top column bushes?,