I've been bothered for a couple of months by a tiny bit of play in my steering....just a few degrees (like maybe five or ten) of looseness before I get feedback and response. Not a big deal, just annoying because it doesn't feel like it used to. Since I already had it up on stands for a few reasons (brake master & check for leaks, plus ABS sensor) this was a good time to trace it down, and it's definitely just a little bit of play in the lower u-joint in the column. The rack itself is tight, no play at the rod ends, everything's tight except that lower u-joint. So I'm wondering if anybody knows any tricks for tightening that joint up? It's not a big enough issue to justify a brand new lower column (and a salvaged one might be no better and could be worse), but if anybody has a magic trick to share, it's definitely worth the minor trouble of pulling the shaft out while the car is up. Otherwise I'll just live with it.

 

Right hand side, Is this what you are talking about? if so REALOEM doesn't break the part down any further than the lower column, probably about $250 shipped. BUT.. at the lower end this is a old school needle bearing U-joint. If you can get it out and have a set of calipers you can probably spec it well enough to find a replacement.. But Ive never heard of these developing slop. You typically find them in driveshafts and they need to hold up there. Makes me think that maybe the problem isn't the U-joint, but lower where the clamp attaches to the steering rack. Per RealOEM there is a torx bolt there, maybe its just as simple as it came loose and needs to be tightened..
Good Luck
Bruce

 

Just to follow up...closer examination showed the u-joint to be tight. Tried a little extra torque on the pinch bolt...no help. Then, a couple of weeks ago, my steering effort started varying - very light, then heavier, all kind of randomly, and the on-center play started to come and go as well. Finally, yesterday I pulled the pump out, opened it up, blew the motor out with an air compressor, hosed everything down with brake cleaner (a lot of dust blew out, and a lot more came out with the brake cleaner), put it back in, and refilled with fresh Pentosin CHF-11S. That fixed everything - the steering is tight on-center, and the effort is consistent. Don't know if it was the fresh fluid, the clean motor windings and such, or a combination of the two, but it made a huge difference for the price of a little labor and a can of Pentosin.