V6 (1994-2004) Mustangs Technical discussions on the 3.8L and 3.9L V6 torque monsters

Too much "play" in steering wheel????

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Old 03-02-2009, 11:32 AM
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ayrton02
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Default Too much "play" in steering wheel????

I got an alignment today after I lowered and installed c/c plates on my car last week. Now, even though the car goes perfectly straight after I let go of the wheel, there is a small amount of "slack" in the steering wheel while the car is moving.... like you have to move the wheel a little bit before it becomes firms and actually starts steering. It didn't do this when I had the car aligned before the drop. Any ideas????

Oh, and I went in with both c/c plates in the middle for vertical and horizontal movement... now BOTH plates/bearings are moved horizontally all the way to the left (driver's side). You would think that movement in on plate would result in the opposite movement of the other plate???????????

Help, I'm confused... lol
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Old 03-02-2009, 11:48 AM
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Shaunmac9128
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how hard were the cc plates to install?
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Old 03-02-2009, 11:55 AM
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ayrton02
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They were easy... much easier than I thought. The hardest part is getting the retaining nut off the strut if you don't have air tools. I held a big slotted screw driver in the slot on top of the stut while my dad used a wrench to remove the nut. It only has to be torqued to like 35lbs. so tightening it using the same technique was not a problem. And I had to cut slits in the tops of the dustboots to get them to go over the bumpstops, but other than that, it went very smooth.
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Old 03-02-2009, 12:28 PM
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I just discovered the bastards at the alignment shop broke the clip inside the car that holds the hood release.
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Old 03-02-2009, 12:37 PM
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RyansQuick6
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You need a bump-steer kit
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Old 03-02-2009, 12:41 PM
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ayrton02
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Originally Posted by RyansQuick6
You need a bump-steer kit
Is that a symptom of bumpsteer or would new tie-rod ends (like you mentioned before) be enough?
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Old 03-02-2009, 12:48 PM
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antbug911
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Originally Posted by ayrton02
I just discovered the bastards at the alignment shop broke the clip inside the car that holds the hood release.
that sucks, the same thing happened on my girlfriends mustang, but we havn't fixed it yet
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Old 03-02-2009, 12:54 PM
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ayrton02
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Originally Posted by antbug911
that sucks, the same thing happened on my girlfriends mustang, but we havn't fixed it yet
Yeah, it's like $30 because I've only seen them with the entire cable assembly. I didn't get a good look at it and see if I can get the clip separate. I might be able to get what I need at a junkyard or something. I'm too pissed off and have some studying to do to be fooling around with it.
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Old 03-02-2009, 02:17 PM
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RyansQuick6
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Originally Posted by ayrton02
Is that a symptom of bumpsteer or would new tie-rod ends (like you mentioned before) be enough?
kind of, basically your steering geometry is out of whack and the bump steer kit will correct it. Stock tie rod ends won't do anything
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Old 03-02-2009, 02:26 PM
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Originally Posted by RyansQuick6
kind of, basically your steering geometry is out of whack and the bump steer kit will correct it. Stock tie rod ends won't do anything
What about the x2 balljoints - are they needed too?
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