dutchjeep
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Half Moon Bay, CA
Hi All,
Recently, with outside temperatures dropping, I noticed a bit of play in the wheel in the mornings (cold engine). This would consistently disappear when the engine got warmer. After searching this forum and elsewhere I figured it must be the steering shaft. And it is. But I still don't understand what's going on.
I've added two close-up pictures (pic taken from top, left is front engine, right is firewall) of the shaft upper joint. The part indicated by the arrows moves relative to the outer casing. The first picture is wheel moved to left, the second is wheel moved to right. The inner shaft bridges the gap shown in the pictures relative to the outer casing, which is thus the play.
Now, when the engine is cold the motion is very sudden and abrupt, which gives the sensation of play in the wheel, and a 'clunky' feel when the inner part slips and bridges the play at once. When the engine is warm the parts will still move relative to eachother, but very gradual, so you don't feel it really (except that would probably result in some indirectness in the steering for the first bit of the wheel motion; which is also what I invariably experienced but have never mind).
Is this part of the design of the shaft or is something seriously wrong here?
What about the abrupt motion when cold (like first 5-10 minutes)? Really bad or just normal wear?
Replacement needed?
Thanks for any pointers and input! I'm clueless.
Tim
Recently, with outside temperatures dropping, I noticed a bit of play in the wheel in the mornings (cold engine). This would consistently disappear when the engine got warmer. After searching this forum and elsewhere I figured it must be the steering shaft. And it is. But I still don't understand what's going on.
I've added two close-up pictures (pic taken from top, left is front engine, right is firewall) of the shaft upper joint. The part indicated by the arrows moves relative to the outer casing. The first picture is wheel moved to left, the second is wheel moved to right. The inner shaft bridges the gap shown in the pictures relative to the outer casing, which is thus the play.
Now, when the engine is cold the motion is very sudden and abrupt, which gives the sensation of play in the wheel, and a 'clunky' feel when the inner part slips and bridges the play at once. When the engine is warm the parts will still move relative to eachother, but very gradual, so you don't feel it really (except that would probably result in some indirectness in the steering for the first bit of the wheel motion; which is also what I invariably experienced but have never mind).
Is this part of the design of the shaft or is something seriously wrong here?
What about the abrupt motion when cold (like first 5-10 minutes)? Really bad or just normal wear?
Replacement needed?
Thanks for any pointers and input! I'm clueless.
Tim