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Why do you get 'play' in a steering wheel?

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  • 30-10-2009 10:41pm
    #1
    Johnny Utah
    Registered Users Posts: 2,157 ✭✭✭


    I was watching an old episode of Top Gear on Dave there recently. The lads had bought three old cars, and Jeremy commented on the 'play' in the steering of one of them. He joked that you could drive this particular car through an American film.

    I'm just wondering; why do you get play in a car's steering?

    Is it inevitable in older cars or cars over a certain mileage?

    And is there anything you can do to try and prevent it?


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    #2
    746watts
    Closed Accounts Posts: 193 ✭✭746watts


    excessive clearance in steering box and wear in track rod ends = play.


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    #3
    johndaman66
    Registered Users Posts: 4,095 ✭✭✭johndaman66


    In addition I think unbalanced wheels or any way buckled rims would would cause you problems Johnny Utah


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    #4
    Seweryn
    Registered Users Posts: 4,487 ✭✭✭Seweryn


    Johnny Utah wrote: »
    I'm just wondering; why do you get play in a car's steering?

    Is it inevitable in older cars or cars over a certain mileage?

    And is there anything you can do to try and prevent it?
    You get play in the steering due to the following:
    - wear in the steering joints (simple thing to replace) or other steering components,
    - play in the steering box (depending on type of steering box you may be able to adjust the play / clearance in the box or you may need to replace / repair the box),
    - type of steering box (recirculating ball type boxes are known for having some play, but these are usually adjustable).
    Not much to do with mileage or age of the car.


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    #5
    Our man in Havana
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,476 ✭✭✭✭Our man in Havana


    A certain amount of play is normal in any event.


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    #6
    Johnny Utah
    Registered Users Posts: 2,157 ✭✭✭Johnny Utah


    Very good answer there Seweryn.


    johndaman66 wrote: »
    In addition I think unbalanced wheels or any way buckled rims would would cause you problems Johnny Utah

    I should have mentioned I'm not concerned about excessive play in the steering of my own car. I was just curious about older cars having watched the programme.


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    #7
    Seweryn
    Registered Users Posts: 4,487 ✭✭✭Seweryn


    Johnny Utah wrote: »
    Very good answer there Seweryn.

    I should have mentioned I'm not concerned about excessive play in the steering of my own car. I was just curious about older cars having watched the programme.

    Hi Johnny.
    Older cars have usually worn steering system due to lack of service and proper maintenance.
    But there is another aspect of the recirculating ball type boxes - when the front wheels are positioned straight up, the play is on its minimum, but when you turn the wheels say 30 degrees, the play gets huge, but that is the nature of the recirculating ball boxes. It is not a failure, it is just their "technical character".


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