ALFAGTV6.COM

I have a problem I could use some help with. the car is an 83 GTV6. The problem is that the steering is very stiff and grabby when driving, but seems just fine with the car on jack stands. Its not the damper as I pulled that out. The car is relativly new to me (2mo) and was not well taken care of mechanicly.

I haven't seen anything in this bb on the topic.

Thanks,
Scott

Scott could be a mechanical problem such as ball joints that only bind when the suspension is loaded but first I would suggest that you have your toe-in / toe-out checked by an allignment shop.

I don't think its alignment as the car goes where its pointed. The problem is I cant turn the steering wheel smoothly, it is binding when turned in any direction and any amount (small correction or tight U turn).

Scott

Power steering? Check fluid level, sounds like pump-catch.

Mats GTV6's weren't equipped with PS from the factory.
Scott the reason I suggested checking the allignment is that incorrect settings for toe-in/out can cause strange steering feedback even though the car will track straight.
You could also have a look at your steering column.There is a bolt that needs to be tight inside the car just above the firewall.There is also a rubber coupling that can seperate from its housing down where the column connects to the steering rack.

if the rack has been replaced this could actualy be normal break in...ive heard alot of complaints over the years of "new/rebuilt" racks doing this foranywhere from 10 miles up to 1000 miles befor acting as you would expect

Thanks for the help! I'll look at those bolts and coupling tommorow.

The rack looks old and the condition got worse after I had the car on stands doing other maintinance jobs.

The steering wheel is phisically difficult to move now....kind of like there is a strap wrench around the steering column.

This car has manual steering.

If this makes you think of anything else, let me know.

Thank you,
scott

almost sounds like a rack going bad...or some serious bind..enuf that i wouldnt drive it

You're right! No I'm not driving it till I get this figgured out.

Thanks again,
Scott

Scott,

I suggest you revisit what ever other work you did. Could something you did be fouling the tie rods or tires, etc? I know from experience that when I work on the brakes (for instance) and the steering goes wrong that I probably did something wrong when I repaired the brakes.

Probably clear as mud but I hope it helps.

Shures,
You're absolutely right. I will check around there as I did remove the steering damper, but removing the damper made an existing problem worse and the damper was useless as it had no oil in it.

I'll let you know what I come up with.
Scott

How is one supposed to put lubricant into a manual steering rack?

The ball joints on this thing are looking iffy.....the boots have been gone for who knows how long.

I got the steering to free up yesterday by simply turning the wheel from lock to lock, but that didn't solve the problem, as after driving 40 miles the stiff steering came back. I stopped, turned the wheel back and forth again , and the steering returned to being delightful.

I think ball joints and tierod ends are next.....with poly bushings while I'm in there.

scott

If the boot is bad the joint is bad (at least in 95% of the cases I've seen), change them. Grease for the rack goes in the pinion shaft hole but that's not something you do with the rack in the car...
Sounds like your boots on the ends of the race are shot maybe? dust and "stuff" in there must be pushed out of the way by the seals I guess = friction.

Mats,

Thanks a bunch!

I will be ordering the joints this week.

anything special about pulling the pinion from the steering rack? Does the steering column have to be moved out of the way to get the rack out?

The rack boots themselves are alright, but the clamps (zip ties) are not.

Any preferences on poly bushings (type, supplier, etc) for a street driven car?

Thanks,
Scott