play in steering wheel --mk2 88 Golf (gl?)

#1

I'm not sure if I'm being a golf-hypochondriac or not, but I've
noticed that I've got about 1.5 inches of rotation in my steering
wheel before the front wheels begin to move significantly. It's got
some kind of super-sensitive power assist steering. It was leaking
steering fluid about 18 months ago and we had front end work done, and
ever since then the steering has *felt* incredibly sensitive, although
the car tracks well.

So...is 1.5" of rotational play acceptable, or is something in the
steering column wearing out..? Erghh....

#2

My Golk mk2 has about an inch of rotational play. I believe it means
the amount of "travel" in the steering wheel before the wheels begin
to turn. So if I crank my wheel to the right, it rotates about an
inch before the wheels begin to angle.

I had some front end work done about 18 months ago, so I'm guessing
that my problem is in the steering column, and will be expensive and
difficult to fix unless I start dating a VW mechanic.

"Mike R" <m.robinson (AT) cogeco (DOT) ca> wrote

Quote:

Peter please tell us, what does rotational play mean?
"Peter Parker" <nospam (AT) zero (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:4097d4c5_2 (AT) nntp2 (DOT) nac.net...
In article <b48eef00.0405040911.52eb7d5 (AT) posting (DOT) google.com>,
Mark Crane <Craniac (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:
I'm not sure if I'm being a golf-hypochondriac or not, but I've
noticed that I've got about 1.5 inches of rotation in my steering
wheel before the front wheels begin to move significantly. It's got
some kind of super-sensitive power assist steering. It was leaking
steering fluid about 18 months ago and we had front end work done, and
ever since then the steering has *felt* incredibly sensitive, although
the car tracks well.

So...is 1.5" of rotational play acceptable, or is something in the
steering column wearing out..? Erghh....

#3

nospam (AT) zero (DOT) com (Peter Parker) wrote in message news:<409c4488_2 (AT) nntp2 (DOT) nac.net>...

Quote:

A way to check to see if your rack is toast is to go into
an empty parking lot, turn the wheel, give it gas, take your hands off
the wheel and see if the gas will start you back to straight slowly.
If the wheel doesn't move back to straight slowly, your rack is hammered
one way. Do it left and right because you need to check both ways.
This only is a test after you have an alignment. If your out of alignment
it might give you a false reading.

I tried this several times, and the car straightened slightly with the
wheels turned to the left, and not at all with the wheels turned to
the right. This is an 88 with power steering. I'll test it on brake
stands next. Thanks for the excellent info.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

play in steering wheel --mk2 88 Golf (gl?)

Volkswagen Golf, Jetta, Corrado, Vanagon, new models, etc. (rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled)

play in steering wheel --mk2 88 Golf (gl?) - 05-04-2004 , 01:11 PM

Re: play in steering wheel --mk2 88 Golf (gl?) - 05-07-2004 , 10:10 AM

Re: play in steering wheel --mk2 88 Golf (gl?) - 05-11-2004 , 02:13 PM