Loose steering. What parts to replace? 71 super....

[oicdn]

My steering has play. I'm unsure as to what I need to replace. It turns and works fine, except you turn the steering wheel a little before it actually starts to turn the wheels. Looseness. Is that in the steering shaft/universal joint? Steering box? Tie Rod?

What do I need/should replace to get the steering to be like new and tight? It's 99% likely it has the same steering parts from it's conception....in 1971. Considering I'm going to be going to Porsche rims/brakes shortly, should I just replace the tie rod with a HD one?

[Cobey]

First, look up under the front end. Do you see any worn out rubber (bushings, tie rod ends, etc)? Second, have you adjusted the steering box?
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[Haridev]

well, if u are lucky, the steering box on your car's play adjuster has still some play left in it. its a screw/bolt on the top of the steering box. if u tighten it it might solve the problem. but more often than not, like in the case of my car (a 1971 standard), i had to replace the entire steering box. it does come quite pricey these days. around $150 or so. mine is a rebuilt unit. its really in great order now. to be on the safe side, replace the ball joints and kin pins. that will make your steering feel like new. actually, from what i realised, the main reason why these steering boxes give way is because of turning the wheel when the car is stationary! it can really kill the box. as far as possible, turn the wheel when the car is mobile or moving slightly. it would ease the strain on the steering box. do check it out, regards, dev
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[Dazed42]

The thing that kills the boxes is going down the highway with a front end that ain't very good.
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[oicdn]

I don't see any worn out bushings. Everything looks fine to the eye. And since it's a daily driver, I didn't wanna just start pulling it apart without asking first.

Right now I'm at work, so I can't physically look under the car....I'll give it another look tonight and see if I can play with that screw on the steering box....

[Caqfatboy]

Worst case you will have to replace either the idler arm bushing or steering box. I just bought a rebilt Steering box from CIP1...$199.00 pluse core charge...It's installed and feels tight....
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[VWLarry]

This may sound stupid, but I would bet money that last year one of the VW mags (Trends or Hot VW) ran an article about a company that was marketing rebuild kits for Super Steering boxes. I'll have to dig around and see if I can find it.

OICDN, if you don't have the cash or your heart set on a new or freshly rebuilt steering box (if indeed you do need one), I have one I can make you a great deal on. It was rebuilt and installed by Hilltop Motors in Jax, FL when I lived down there. It might have had 10,000 miles on it when I wrecked the Super. You don't say where you're at, but pretty sure we can work out a deal. I'm in Utah and the closer the better, cause they are heavy. So if you are interested, just email me at [email protected]

Hopefully yours still has some adjustment left in it so you don't have to tear apart your frontend. Good luck.

[oicdn]

Wow...I'm taking a trip over to Hilltop tomorrow, as I live in Jax!!!!!

PM me for the deal you can give me, it gives me an idea as to what I can expect if I don't go for a new one...

[Shane]

The steering box is the quick fix. You can have someone turn your steering wheel back and forth while you crawl under the car and watch the steering linkage. That may help narrow it down to either the box or control arms. You should see where the play is if you watch the motion.

I imagine I'm going to draw some fire for this, but if you're considering doing front end work and you don't know the current age and/or condition of all the bushings, there are kits that you can buy to replace all of them at one time, for around 65 to 70 bucks. Here's the hard spot. Many of these kits are urethane. For instance, the Prothane "total" kit. I'd say use all the parts except the urethane tranny mounts. Those things add way too much road and engine noise to your car.

As a side note, the simplest way to prevent the "Super shimmy" is to keep your tires balanced.

Good luck.
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[oicdn]

Not too worried about road noise...I don't even have a radio.

Hmm....I'll get all the the tires balanced, then start from there and get a buddy under there while I turn the wheel back and forth...

It's funny, my shimmies are from 30-40ish but rolls SUPER smooth at the typical 45-55 range.....