steering noise/issue

[Johnny5]

I am experiencing some sloppyness in my steering right at top center of the wheel. It feels as if it has a few inches of play (not responsive enough, my 1994 LT1 was definitely more responsive hence why i think something is worn) and it is more noticeable at higher speeds. Also i turned the wheel back and forth with the car off and something is making a knock noise. My brother thinks it may be a worn steering box. Anyone have any experience or advice with these symptoms?

[We Gone]

You may want to check the steering rod coupling and tie rod ends. You have rack and pinion steering (no steering box) and yes it can ware out.

[Johnny5]

Thanks, how would i go about checking that to see what to replace?

[We Gone]

Have a buddy move the steering wheel while you check for whats lose or where the play is. Do it with and with out the car running. Jack up each wheel and check for play.

[lbszr]

If it turns out to be the rack and pinion, turnone-steering.com seems to have a good reputation for rebuilding. I found a rebuilt on at rock auto without a core. I'll be sending my original to turnone.

If I rock the steering wheel with it not running, mine has a knock from in the rack with the old and rebuilt, but the play is gone.

[Johnny5]

maybe the knock is normal for this rack and pinion but I am almost certain the play is not. The response should definitely be sharper than what I am experiencing. I have to check everything out/jack up the front 2 wheels when I have time.

Is the steering in our ZR1s any different than the base C4? and is rebuilding our rack and pinions the only option? (no new offered?)

Turn-one steering looks great but I am in NJ. If I have to pay to rebuild the system Id rather just bring the car somewhere in NJ instead of taking everything apart and paying for shipping twice. Does anyone know of good shops in or around NJ?

[batchman]

Have a buddy move the steering wheel while you check for whats lose or where the play is.

maybe the knock is normal for this rack and pinion but I am almost certain the play is not. The response should definitely be sharper than what I am experiencing.

I'll echo the suggestion for a very simple check. Have *anyone* sit in the drivers' seat, key on/engine off. With the hood up, put your hand flat on top of the drivers' front tire. Have your assistant slowly move the steering wheel until you feel the tire want to move, then tell them to reverse direction and find that point as well. With that settled, have them lather/rinse/repeat while you watch the steering column rag joint and then the tie rod end at the spindle. You may need to take the plastic cover off the rag joint to see the far side of it. My bet is that's where you find your slop, but if it's not, and the tie rods ends at the spindle aren't moving before you feel the tire move, then it's probably inner tie rod end(s) or the rack itself. If it's not the rag joint, repeat the tie rod check on the other front tire.

Is the steering in our ZR1s any different than the base C4? and is rebuilding our rack and pinions the only option? (no new offered?)

The pump is different. The rag joint is different, and "soft" - they went to the old style canvas coupler (hence "rag") as opposed to the "hockey puck" that's on our '88, although that is a Z51 car and I'm not sure which style a base model has. The only other difference I'm aware of is quick vs slow steering racks, most C4s have the slow one except for (I think only) Z51 which got the (very very good and very very rare) quick rack.

My wife bought the ZR-1 in order to have a faster C4 than her '88 Z51; we were pretty surprised at the difference in steering. I have come to believe this was intended to keep their well-heeled new car buyers from twitching off the highway at 175mph. We switched the rack right away and it was still lacking the crispness of the Z51 car. I picked up one of the "hockey pucks" and swapped it, much more direct now.

Anyway sorry for the long post but a lot of that journey started when I noticed the rag joint had play in it...

on edit after your edit: In the highly unlikely event you need to get your rack rebuilt, I would not hesitate to send the rack to Turn One. You can probably get a parts store re-man put in at your corner garage, but IMHO "There be dragons there".

HTH,
- Jeff

[lbszr]

If it's not the simple things. There is the possibility the rack preload adjustment needs adjusted back to factory specs. I tried it on mine before replacing the rack and it didn't help the play, but you never know, free to try. The adjustment is hard to gain access to.

Mine was really bad, it started with a catch that could be felt while turning the steering wheel. It even started wheel shimmy in hard turns on a road track.


Corvette Recycle has NOS rack if you want new. $750.00.

[Johnny5]

my car only has 28k miles so i bet it is something stupid like the lower balljoint on the control arm or some play underneath that plastic cover. Im going to jack it up next weekend. I hope it is not the rack and pinion.

[Johnny5]

i am coming from a 1994 corvette lt1 with the adjustable suspension, maybe the steering in those cars are just felt more crisp and direct than the zr1. I guess I'll find out Friday (im off work :-D).

[batchman]

Humbly suggest it will probably be easier to spot the play with some load on the tires, in other words try checking before jacking it up.

Good luck,
- Jeff

[Johnny5]

Where can i buy a rag joint "hockey puck" version that the Z51 had? Anyone have part nimber for zr1 rag joint and the faster z51 rag joint "hockey puck" Is it direct replacement? And hiw hard is it to change? Other members claim there car always had some slop or lack of responsiveness in the steering but I'm hoping I find play in this joint so I can get better steering response.

[batchman]

I simply bought a used coupler of the rubber style. I do not know if this is on all non-ZR-1 C4s or just Z51. I was lucky to have another Z51 car in the fleet to compare to. Since the coupler is located differently on the ZR-1 (due to engine clearance) it is not the same assembly or a direct bolt up. I drilled the rivets out of both couplers and swapped the rag for the puck using bolts and nuts instead of rivets.

I was really glad my class rules allow interchange of any C4 part - I had to campaign to get that changed as at one time they "feared the beast". I found the quick rack so necessary that I worked on them for a year and got it through.

HTH,
- Jeff

[Johnny5]

I spoke to Marc Heibeck and he recommended checking the bolt that holds the rack and pinion together under the power steering pump first. He also said the pop sound is normal when you turn the wheel. I will update you later this week. If that is not it I will check that rag joint (although marc says they rarely go bad), and so on...

[Johnny5]

I think that is just the way these cars were made. I did not see any play when checking it with my brother/father and the everything looks to be in good shape. I heard people saying that is normal so young kids dont fly off the road at 175. I am going to drive a members car to be sure and see if it feels the same. I guess i am just kind of anal and want this thing to be running perfect.

[We Gone]

Out of 9 C4's 3 of them ZR-1's none has had play or any sounds from the steering. My 95 LT1 car does grown a bit when cold but than it has 200k on the original pump and rack & pinion goes away in about 30 sec after start.

[batchman]

Out of 9 C4's 3 of them ZR-1's none has had play or any sounds from the steering. My 95 LT1 car does grown a bit when cold but than it has 200k on the original pump and rack & pinion goes away in about 30 sec after start.

You might be able to help that groan with fresh synthetic fluid. I've had good luck with Ford Mercon V and the best I've found is Redline Synthetic Power Steering Fluid. Both have helped to cure sticky or notchy steering and are much more immune to temperature problems (autocross with big sticky slicks is hell for power steering).

Cheers,
- Jeff

[Johnny5]

It only makes a small noise when the car is not running and you turn the wheel I'm meeting up with a member in Jersey tomorrow to see if his car has the same steering. Im more concerned to see if other Zs have the same steering play. Its just an inch going straight if u rock the wheel back and forth.

[Johnny5]

After driving a members car (95Zr1) with only 16k miles it made the same noise with the car off and handles the same. Just a lil play at the top of the wheel. So I am pretty sure that is the way these cars are made. I think I was just trying to compare it to my brothers Z06. No issues with my car....Just cruising!!!! :)