Does anyone know what could be the cause or what would be the solution to a steering column that is a little lose. I can move it from side to side 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch with a little effort. How do I get to it and what could it be? Thanks in advance.
steering column lose
- Thread starter jlindy
- Start date
Have you had your dash out for any reason? Make sure the 2 8mm column retainer bolts and two 8mm nuts that hold the column to the body are tight. Also, check the trim plate on the bottom of the console to make sure the 6mm bolts are in place and tight.
Cheers,
-- Chris
Cheers,
-- Chris
Chris@SoS said:
I have not had my dash out, but the owner before me may have. Is it pretty easy to get to? Once I get in, if something is missing, I would not know, so you are saying there is a plate that holds the column in place along with some retainer bolts/nuts?
Best thing is to look at the fly-away diagram in the service manual (available online). The 6mm Phillips screw head bolts are visible from the bottom of the column where the tilt adjuster is. With only one out, the column will move. The column retainer bolts are visible under the column about 2-3 inches away from the first U-joint. From memory, you'll need to take the lower trim pieces off to see the 8mm nuts.
Let us know how it goes.
Cheers,
-- Chris
Let us know how it goes.
Cheers,
-- Chris
Got up in there and found the two bolts that need to be tightened. It was moving right along these two bolts However, they aren't going anywhere. I finally got one of them to move a little and made a little difference, but I think I did more damage in stripping the nut than helping. Here is a pic. Not sure if this is a metric nut because I didn't have anything big enough to fit it other than 1/2 inch.
I'm not sure what else I can do. It barely moves, but barely still drives me nuts.
I'm not sure what else I can do. It barely moves, but barely still drives me nuts.
Attachments
I had the same problem. The nuts clamp an aluminium section which has a captive steel sandwhich. It would appear if someone has previously been a little rough with this, the interferance between these two components fails, and no amount of tightenening will cure the problem.
What I did was strip the lot, and cut a slot down 3/4 of the length of the aluminium section with a hacksaw, then re-fit it to the steel part. This way when the nuts are tightened, the aluminium part clamps the steel section and prevents any further wobble.
Cheers
Gareth
UK
1991 JDM
What I did was strip the lot, and cut a slot down 3/4 of the length of the aluminium section with a hacksaw, then re-fit it to the steel part. This way when the nuts are tightened, the aluminium part clamps the steel section and prevents any further wobble.
Cheers
Gareth
UK
1991 JDM
est205 said:
I had the exact same problem and my mechanic told me that alot NSX have this problem. It appear as the welding of the 2 parts become lose, anyway my mechanic told me he just fill the gap with something so it won't move again. I have it fixed for about 3 months and it does not come back. Good luck.
You dont need to do any of that. The main bolts that hold the column to the dash substructure are attached to v shaped sliding clips. loosen up all of the 4 mounting bolts for the column but not the u joint bolts. then push the column forward to seat the v shaped clips properly once you have done that tighten all of the bolts again and the column wont move left to right.
KANE said:
I am not sure which bolts you are referring to. I thought there were two main bolts like the one in my picture. To me that looks like a v shaped sliding clip, but they won't move. Are those the bolts that you are referring to or am I missing something else to fix it?
Ya its the 2 nuts in the picture but you also need to loosen the bolts on the cradle under the dash. you will know when you find it because there is a nylon ring that the column rides in. Its been like 2 years since I had to fix one like that the main thing is to get the v portion to bottom out in the clip at its narrowest point so it cant move left to right. You might have to pull on the column instead of pushing once all of the bolts are loose. Just make sure you have the clip bottomed out before you retighten
had a little free play in my wheel and my mechanic replaced the steering knuckle and has been fine ever since.
Perhaps you should clarify. Jeff has been asking about movement in the sterring column (side to side), while you mention movement in the steering wheel.NormRD said:
Basically the steering wheel had extra free play in it. For example when going straight and trying to switch lanes the wheel would move about a centimeter or so each direction with no effect. Moving it farther would move the car like normal. After replacing the steering knuckle the steering felt back to normal. I believe the part was $100 bucks or so.
I had the same problem after i had to replace my ignition column. there is a white plastic piece that mounts around the column itself towards the back, if the piece isn't there thats your problem. If it is you can replace it from acura. Good Luck!
KANE said:
I have a 95' NSX and I have this problem. But only in the Top and Middle steering positions (the NSX has 3 lockable steering positions: Top, Middle, Bottom) When locked in the Top or Middle positions, the entire column has a gap of approx. quarter of an inch to move Up/Down. When I do a hard turning on the road, it (the column) even moves Left-Right. This gap is very annoying. Is there a better way as to how can I solve it ?
I just got it back from my mechanic and it is fixed. Kane was absolutely correct. There are 4 bolts, two like in my picture and two towards the base of the steering column which I didn't see. You need to losen all four and then pull the whole steering column towards the driver until the wedge shaped clips lock in place and then retighten. It now does not move.
Revive and old thread....
Having the same problem, with about a mm or two of play each side. From what I understand, the pictures below show what I am supposed to be tightening, after pulling or pushing on the steering column. Did everything recommended, and still have the slight bit of play. It appears that the two large nuts are just not tightening down enough due to the metal tab underneath it, but I don't see how to get a shim or washer up in there to give a bit more bite on the nut.
First pic shows the collar and the two bolts that should allow you to pull or push and tighten the collar?? My collar was seated properly, and no amount of pushing or pulling seemed to make a difference.
This one shows the other two nuts that clamp the steering column to the dash. The metal tabs underneath the bolts seem to be part of two assemblies. One side assembly is part oft he rectangular tab above the nut on the left, and it almost seems that the assembly is built so that it will not let the nut clamp down all the way, allowing for the slop. I'd need to get a lock or serrated washer up underneath the tabs up under the nut for the whole system to lock down. Am I missing something here?
I did not take the plastic off all the way from around the tilt lever, as there were some wires connected to it, and I didn't see anything up under there that looked like it needed tightening.
The little bit of slop is barely noticible, but is driving me crazy. Any help would be much appreciated....
Tom
Having the same problem, with about a mm or two of play each side. From what I understand, the pictures below show what I am supposed to be tightening, after pulling or pushing on the steering column. Did everything recommended, and still have the slight bit of play. It appears that the two large nuts are just not tightening down enough due to the metal tab underneath it, but I don't see how to get a shim or washer up in there to give a bit more bite on the nut.
First pic shows the collar and the two bolts that should allow you to pull or push and tighten the collar?? My collar was seated properly, and no amount of pushing or pulling seemed to make a difference.
This one shows the other two nuts that clamp the steering column to the dash. The metal tabs underneath the bolts seem to be part of two assemblies. One side assembly is part oft he rectangular tab above the nut on the left, and it almost seems that the assembly is built so that it will not let the nut clamp down all the way, allowing for the slop. I'd need to get a lock or serrated washer up underneath the tabs up under the nut for the whole system to lock down. Am I missing something here?
I did not take the plastic off all the way from around the tilt lever, as there were some wires connected to it, and I didn't see anything up under there that looked like it needed tightening.
The little bit of slop is barely noticible, but is driving me crazy. Any help would be much appreciated....
Tom
I belive there is also an adjustment underneath the car on the steering rack itself. My mechanic did the adjustment but check the manual and you should find something.
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