HI, I'm gonna get an alignment on my subi, the side swiped one, I just got a new steering rack from red head and tie rods and ball joints and bushings in down under and I noticed my column u-joint is a little wiggly and my steering column is too. In the book(haynes) it shown a bushing on the steering shaft and a bracket, which I'll bet has another. I figure I'll get another u-joint at some point but what about replacing the other bushings? Will this effect my up coming alignment, like making it more difficult to do? Has any one done the column bushings? Is it a PITA? It was hit hard enough to turn the front wheels when parked so I'm tracking down the issues.

OH, and no I'm not that crazy:rolleyes:, I had purchased everything just two days before the accident and I will need to drive it until everything is settled anyhow. Now, on with the evening:drunk:(insert sexy girl emocon here)

 

Happy New Year Everyone!

Its hard to believe no one has done a steering column swap for reasons of steering column woes or fixed the column wiggle. Anyone know steering issues? What makes a column wiggle at the firewall through the dash? Am I asking the wrong questions?

Its hard to believe no one has done a steering column swap for reasons of steering column woes or fixed the column wiggle. Anyone know steering issues? What makes a column wiggle at the firewall through the dash? Am I asking the wrong questions?

 

Are you saying the whole column is moving, or is it just the steering shaft that's moving inside of the cloumn?

 

The column should not move, atleast without some great effort applied. I would think the mounting bolts under the dash are loose if it does wiggle around.

 

If it's the steering shaft itself that's wiggling, chances are the bushing at the bottom end of the column is worn.

 

Haven't done one from a Subaru, but have rebuilt many for old Chevy, Dodge, Ford trucks. Not to bad of a job, IF you can get the parts.......

The whole thing moves. You can reach in the engine bay and wiggle the steering wheel and watch the shaft move at the firewall. I'm sourcing a ujoint today and I might pull the dash apart to look for bolts loose or bent.

 

I wouldn't surprise me if all is worn. I've replaced almost all wear items on the car so far, what is a few more? The only thing thats left in the car originally is the block, (new manifold) Dash, front calipers, knuckles, seat belts, carpet and the steering column, rear diff and muff (the "ler" fell off)