Hi All,


The steering on my daughters KA has picked up an advisory on the MOT for free play in the steering wheel, when I had a look there is a fair amount of movement, what I also noticed was how bloody heavy it was going from lock to lock.


so Q1. how much free play should there be and Q2.how heavy should the steering be at a stand still?


is this going to be a case replacing the steering rack?


Cheers


Stu

 

Hi. Did the tester advise on what the problem may be? It's likely to be one, or maybe more, of a couple of things. First, it may be the track rod ends on either end of the steering rack steering arms. They may be worn/ have split boots allowing dirt to enter and wear the ball joint. It may be play on the ends of the steering arms on the rack. I have a streetka and the power steering on that is quite heavy. I also have a Fiat Punto and the steering is quite light compared. To check for track rod and steering rack play, jack the front of the car up. Rest it on a pair of axle stands and then grasp each front wheel in turn at the 9 and 3 o' clock positions. Try to rock the wheel from side to side using short, jerky movements. If any play is present you should be able to feel it as you rock the wheel.

 

Hi Thanks for the reply, no the tester did not say just play in the steering wheel.


having said this I have had a good look myself by trawling the web and then checking the KA, one of the comments from else where was the two U-Joints are prone to seizing....so went out to apply a little grease and in doing so noticed that the play is from the bottom U-joint.


so next question, how do I take this off the steering column?
is it a case that the whole steering column has to come out or can it be changed with the steering column still in the car, as I can see the bolt locking it to the steering rack but cannot see how it attaches to the steering column.


Cheers


Stu

 

When you say u joint, do you mean the universal joint at the bottom of the steering column where the column meets the steering rack? If that's the case, then, normally, as far as I'm aware, it's a steering column out job in order to replace the uj at the bottom.

 

yep the universal joint at the bottom, I have found no info on the internet or in the Haynes manual about changing the joint, so had a sneaky suspicion that it was a column out job, but I will get the car up on the ramps and have a closer look to see if it is poss to remove whilst still in the car.


as I said the car was bought for my daughter who is not 17 till august so no rush to get it changed just yet.

 

Im pretty sure you will have to take off the steering wheel and bring the column out to change the UJ.

My first Ka developed heavy steering and it just needed a bit of grease, however the rack could be going. Its easy to replace.