Steering problem

CADDY DADDY

MEMBER
CADILLAC DEVILLE

I've been recently working on my 1973 Caddy Coupedeville I just purchased from a elderly gentelman. The problem being that when driving straight the steering wheel had alot of play.I was told to check the front end. I changed the centerlink, upper & lower ball joints. The car still wanders but what is worse. When I make a right turn (more of a long curve) the wheel tends to be very sensitive & jerky (the car pulls back & forth), but when I turn to the left, there is some play but no jerky (pulling feeling). I also checked and replaced the front disc brakes.I noticed that the rim holes (on both rims) were egged out! Seems like somone forgot to tighten the wheels. (I noticed this when I replaced the brakes. My question is. Could those rims be causing this? Or is it that steering box? How about the tie rod ends? Everything seems fine thou. I'm confused. Any help would be great. Thanks

4 Replies

MIKE H R

MECHANIC
3,094 POSTS

Have someone move the steering wheel a little each way, while you look at the sterring box. If you see play in the box it can be adjusted by the set screw with a nut on top, loosen the locking nut while holding the screw in place, tighten the screw a little to see if the play stops DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN, if you do the steering will bind up. After adjusting the
screw re tighten the locking nut, make minor adjustments to the steering box, until the play is removed, check the steering after you have completed the adjustment.

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Thursday, March 22nd, 2007 AT 8:18 AM

CADDY DADDY

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3 POSTS

I was thinking of doing this but why would the steering be affected only to the right then the left?
Would bad inner & outer front wheel bearings cause this? Thanks for your quick reply!

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Thursday, March 22nd, 2007 AT 4:24 PM

MIKE H R

MECHANIC
3,094 POSTS

When the teeth in the steering box don't mesh properly you can get a one binding up with another on one, then can bind up in either direction, how much play do you have in the steering wheel?

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Thursday, March 22nd, 2007 AT 5:53 PM

CADDY DADDY

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3 POSTS

Seems like alot when your driving. But when you sit in the car and turn the wheel. It doesn't look like much. Also wanted to mention. It's almost impossible to adjust this box.I had looked at it earlier (when I thought about adjusting it). You can't get a straight shot at either the nut or the hex screw that adjusts the box. Seems that GM didn't want anyone adjusting it! It's probably easier to change it than adjust it! But that's just my 2 cents.

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Thursday, March 22nd, 2007 AT 8:07 PM