Awful steering feel...normal?
05-07-2018, 11:24 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: AZ
Posts: 48
Awful steering feel...normal?
My 04 GT drives like a bus. The front end feels super floaty, I can move the steering wheel QUITE a bit and the front end doesn't move and the thing feels all around very vague.
I'm thinking I'm going to get an alignment and see if that helps, but anyone have any idea why there would be so much vagueness on center?
I'm thinking I'm going to get an alignment and see if that helps, but anyone have any idea why there would be so much vagueness on center?
05-07-2018, 02:32 PM
#4
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 2,327
Can be a lot of issues, from rack to suspension components. If it floats around
while driving, that's usually sway-bar issues, bushings and end-links.
Rag joint is basically the steering coupler....
Not a mustang one, but that's a Rag joint... There is a bushing between the shaft and
shaft to the rack coupler. You should not get a lot of play like you're talking
with a bad rag joint unless the splines are broke, and catches as you turn...
The bushing bolt holes would have to be badly ovaled out for that much play.
while driving, that's usually sway-bar issues, bushings and end-links.
Rag joint is basically the steering coupler....
Not a mustang one, but that's a Rag joint... There is a bushing between the shaft and
shaft to the rack coupler. You should not get a lot of play like you're talking
with a bad rag joint unless the splines are broke, and catches as you turn...
The bushing bolt holes would have to be badly ovaled out for that much play.
05-07-2018, 02:53 PM
#5
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: AZ
Posts: 48
Can be a lot of issues, from rack to suspension components. If it floats around
while driving, that's usually sway-bar issues, bushings and end-links.
Rag joint is basically the steering coupler....
Not a mustang one, but that's a Rag joint... There is a bushing between the shaft and
shaft to the rack coupler. You should not get a lot of play like you're talking
with a bad rag joint unless the splines are broke, and catches as you turn...
The bushing bolt holes would have to be badly ovaled out for that much play.
while driving, that's usually sway-bar issues, bushings and end-links.
Rag joint is basically the steering coupler....
Not a mustang one, but that's a Rag joint... There is a bushing between the shaft and
shaft to the rack coupler. You should not get a lot of play like you're talking
with a bad rag joint unless the splines are broke, and catches as you turn...
The bushing bolt holes would have to be badly ovaled out for that much play.
Thanks for the info. I'm going to tinker with the diff this weekend, then next weekend I'll poke around up front and see if I can find anything that looks outta whack. That gives me some stuff to check out. Thanks!!
05-08-2018, 01:49 PM
#8
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,826
Worn/deteriorated rag joint is a somewhat common issue on these cars. If yours is done, Maximum Motorsports makes an excellent replacement steering shaft that won't fail. You can try to repair it if you like, there are replacement coupler sections available but I see things like this as an opportunity to upgrade a little and do it right.
05-08-2018, 02:10 PM
#9
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: AZ
Posts: 48
Worn/deteriorated rag joint is a somewhat common issue on these cars. If yours is done, Maximum Motorsports makes an excellent replacement steering shaft that won't fail. You can try to repair it if you like, there are replacement coupler sections available but I see things like this as an opportunity to upgrade a little and do it right.
I assume this is what you're talking about? That'd replace the whole shibang and make the thing feel like it was built in the last half century? lol
If so, from what I'm seeing, that's not a hard job, either...so that's good. :-D
05-08-2018, 04:08 PM
#10
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 939
That MM shaft would be a HUGE improvement over a worn rag joint (if that's what's going on here). I'm not sure how big of an improvement it would be over a new rag joint, though. The flexible disc is actually quite firm when it's in good condition.
FWIW, I'm still running a rag joint in my '95 daily driver (pretty sure it's the original too), and I have no complaints as it's still nice and tight. No play at all (maybe I just haven't been driving it hard enough to wear it out?). I have a hunch that the flexible disc is probably supposed to help with NVH too...
I think that IF your rag joint is worn, you'd probably be more than happy with a new one just like it. It'd certainly be more affordable ...if you can find one, that is. A quick search at my usual go-to stores is coming up empty. I wonder if a Fox one would fit.
FWIW, I'm still running a rag joint in my '95 daily driver (pretty sure it's the original too), and I have no complaints as it's still nice and tight. No play at all (maybe I just haven't been driving it hard enough to wear it out?). I have a hunch that the flexible disc is probably supposed to help with NVH too...
I think that IF your rag joint is worn, you'd probably be more than happy with a new one just like it. It'd certainly be more affordable ...if you can find one, that is. A quick search at my usual go-to stores is coming up empty. I wonder if a Fox one would fit.
Last edited by Urambo Tauro; 05-08-2018 at 04:10 PM.
