Play in steering system

[concept 101]

I have discovered that when pushing around and steering my Spider there´s a lot of play in the steering. I have checked all joints and they look ok. Should I next go directly to the steering idle box, like in Andrew´s case, or is there some kind of remedy before that? I have also heard that this could be adjusted by the screws on the steering box, but not knowing exactly which one or how to do, I´d rather don´t want to mess anything up. Has anyone had the same problem or any advice what/ how to do?

Dennis

[Andrew]

The box is adjustable for wear. The way I have done it on ZF boxes in 105 cars is to get the front wheels in the air and adjust the screw inwards until the steering just starts to feel resistance somewhere in the travel. Then back off just a hair.

Make sure the box is full of oil.

Tie-rod ends (all six of them) can also have play. Steering box itself can be worn beyond the point where you can adjust out the slack, especially at the outer ends of travel.

Most of the play in mine 750 was the idler box.

Andrew

[Gordon Raymond]

Andrew's comments on this are 100%. As there are so many tie rod ends on this system, ANY wear there is compounded. The easiest way to approach this problem is as Andrew describes, approaching the box first. Due to the design, it will be almost impossible to remove all play in the center or dead ahead position without some bind at the turning extremes. Be sure there is no bind in the extreme right or left turn positions, any remaining play in the dead ahead position is going to be there unless you can source new internals.
Then remaining play will be the tie rod ends. This system will have some play in these ends unless they are all new. It is worth while to buy the best replacement ends you can find so your steering will be as precise as it was designed to be when new.

[pathung]

Mine was also the idler box, but I had the steering box checked (ok condition) and tie rod ends replaced.

I had a friend help me test the condition of my idler box before I took the steering assembly out. Simply crank the steering wheel to its limit in either direction, then force it some more in the same direction while the friend stands over the idler box to look for play between the idler arm housing and shaft - mine wobbled so much it was obvious.

[Andrew]

With all the leverage in the system (look at the length of the arms on the idler box), a small amount of wear in the idler shaft/bushing fit is multiplied many times over by the arm length.
Andrew