I seem to have a bit of play in the steering wheel.
When it's parked up but not with the engine running, I can turn the wheel about an inch without the wheels moving, no steering lock on. Is that normal?
Turned on, the steering wheel moves the front wheels immediately without any play but when I'm on the motorway doing about 60/70mph, it's then that I occasionally notice a bit of play, or tramlining.
I'm wondering if it's the steering rack that's going, or whether it's some kind of bushing in the upper or lower steering column itself.
Any ideas from seasoned operators?

 

Older-style steering columns with the two sliding shafts tended to develop some play over time, I'll attach the TSB. Mine had this issue and an updated lower column fixed it. The updated style has a rubber coupler instead of sliding tubes.

Could also be not enough preload in the steering rack?

 

I didn't know it was possible to set the pre load in the steering rack. That would make sense I guess!
What's the method of adjustment?

 

How many miles? My inner Tie rods had 1/2" of slop at the tire after 80K miles.

The inner tie rods look like they are part of the rack, but are replaceable wear parts.

 

See the picture below. Loosen the locking nut and then turn the centre adjuster stud clockwise in small steps (say, quarter turn) then test the steering again. Hopefully, this will eliminate the free play.

NOTE: put a mark on the adjuster stud so that you can return it to the original position if its tightening affects the steering in any undesired way; also, tightening the adjuster stud too much may make the steering a bit stiff at higher speeds when the power assistance is reduced.

 

I would check the alignment as well. Not enough caster can cause what feels like "play"in the steering feel.

 

The car has 230k miles on it, so I'd imagine the steering rack might be reaching it's limits around about now. I've changed the inner and outer tie rods earlier this year,so can hopefully count that one out.

I'll give the adjuster nut a go and see if that improves things at all. Point taken on the alignment as I've experienced that in the past.

 

Well I tried my best at getting the bolt to loosen up but it was impossible. It was stuck fast, even the obligatory tap with a chisel and hammer wouldn't get it to turn.
However another (slightly less old) steering rack is at hand and that seems to be in good working order. I've tested that as well as I can after following what seems to be the zf steering rack procedure in German, found on the YouTube...


Looks a bit rusted before I started


New old steering rack being tested along the lines of the zf procedure I think

 

Thank you for the pointers everyone.
Replacement steering rack has solved the issue.
Luckily it was only £30 on ebay too.

Here's my two pronged approach to getting the steering column back on. I find this bit really hard work usually.

Two pry bars to manoeuvre the steering column onto the rack

 

Yeah that column clamp is always a pain to get off. Also, it looks like that is the old style lower steering column you have, so it may be worth checking/replacing with the one mentioned in the TSB if play develops in the future.

 

Yeah, I actually replaced the lower steering column because the latest one developed a bad u joint to the point that the steering would lock whilst on full lock. Quite an experience. That's the only decent one I could find at the time.
Next job is to replace the lower wishbone bushes as they look past their prime and have an effect on things at the front.