The car: 1985 GT

The symptoms: Steering has noticeable play at freeway speeds, I feel like I'm having to focus too much on keeping the car between the lines at freeway speeds. It's not horrible (yet) but it is there. I can feel the car start to lightly drift one way, and when I correct, it drifts the other way. Kinda makes freeway driving uncomfortable, and I fear dangerous. I jacked up the car, and found noticeable play in the passenger wheel with the hands at 3 and 9. I believe this means the inner tie rod is shot? Is that right? No real movement on the driver side, but I will probably just replace that side too, because if I don't know, I will in a week.

Thoughts? Things I should check? Info I can give to aid in diagnosing this? Let me know!

Thanks in advance!

Edit to add that this loose feeling isn't great enough for the passenger to notice, but is only felt by the driver. On several occasions, I have asked passengers if they could notice any deviation and they said I was crazy. But Being the one holding the wheel it is a different story. It's just enough to be a minor nuisance, but like I said, I'm afraid this could be dangerous,so it's time to get it fixed.
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"He took my stapler. I could burn this building down."

[This message has been edited by TheRealShadowX (edited 04-04-2011).]

A worn rack bushing will allow toe changes, that will give the symptoms you list. Also, toe-out will make the car feel twitchy and unsettled. See if you can move either tie rod up and down where it enters the rack. Http://www.rodneydickman.com sells replacement bushings.

Low tire pressure can do it

Bad rear tie rod ends can also.

[This message has been edited by phonedawgz (edited 04-04-2011).]

bad rack gears, shocks, tires, ball joints, bushings....one or any of the above. Could just need an alignment too.

Check out for any loose parts and then have alignment checked.
Check for loose cradle bolts also.
Bad rear toe as well as front toe and caster. Not enough caster can make a car feel very squirrelly.

Well, getting ready to tackle this soon. Took some pics and videos of the suspect front pass. wheel. I believe this wheel wandering is the cause of my symptoms. What do you guys think?

Pic of the whole assembly.


Not too sure what I'm looking at here, looks like the sway bar end, but I don't like the way that looks.


Yikes! look at that rusty brace! There's nothing left! The other side is still solid. Whatever....


Not liking the look of this very much either....


And the videos.. They're short, so PLEASE watch them! The second one really scares me, that's why this car almost never sees freeway. (Shudders...)

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TRSX

The Zombiero - "Thrice resurrected"

1985 GT, 4 Speed Muncie, 3.4PR V6, 15" Lace GT wheels, Power everything, sunroof, Red with gray effects. Driven and enjoyed daily.

What you need to do is have someone shake the wheel and you need to determine where the slop is coming from

Inner tie rod end?

Outer tie rod end?

Ball joint/A arm bushings (not likely for the movement shown)

Steering rack bushing?

Rusted out rack mounts? (prob not)

Put the car up on stands and take the boot off of the that end of the steering rack. Have someone shake the wheel back and forth as you did an see where the movement is coming from. A worn out steering rack bushing can allow that end of the rack to move up and down and give you slop. Good news is with that much you should be able to identify where the slop is.
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Sway bar bushing - yeah that is kinda how they all look. You can replace them but it's doubtful that you will feel any difference.

[This message has been edited by phonedawgz (edited 05-05-2011).]

Take the wheel off, check if the upper control arm, if it has a lot of slop in the upper control arm. if the upper bolt wiggles a good amount it's because the sleeve that the bolt goes through is egged out.