Steering movement

Suspension related stuff goes in here.
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fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Steering movement

Post by fiat218 »

I just got all the suspension done on my 80. I have to go get a alignment in the morning at 8. Just out of curios , I have like about a inch of pLAy in my steering wheel before the tires move from side to side, maybe not a inch but 5/8 to3/4 of a inch , now I am hoping that could be normal and when they do the alignment then can adjust what ever and that would be gone,

Am I wrong or right, or is it in the steering box

Now I said every piece is new under the front suspension
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider
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RRoller123
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Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
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Re: Steering movement

Post by RRoller123 »

Probably the steering box, you can adjust it pretty easily by loosening the lock nut and slightly tightening the slotted screw. Mine was sloppy too when I got it. Do it a little at a time until most of the slop is gone. Don't over adjust it as it will cause problems at the extremities of steering. Just a little play is good at the center point of steering.
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fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: Steering movement

Post by fiat218 »

RRoller123 wrote:Probably the steering box, you can adjust it pretty easily by loosening the lock nut and slightly tightening the slotted screw. Mine was sloppy too when I got it. Do it a little at a time until most of the slop is gone. Don't over adjust it as it will cause problems at the extremities of steering. Just a little play is good at the center point of steering.
ok thanks, i will wait and see after the alignment is
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider
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azruss
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Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 12:24 pm
Your car is a: 80 Fiat 2000 FI

Re: Steering movement

Post by azruss »

If you have play in the steering box, it will be in the center position but will be fine once the wheel is turned.
fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: Steering movement

Post by fiat218 »

azruss wrote:If you have play in the steering box, it will be in the center position but will be fine once the wheel is turned.
Good, u mean alignment as in turned
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider
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azruss
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Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 12:24 pm
Your car is a: 80 Fiat 2000 FI

Re: Steering movement

Post by azruss »

no, this has nothing to do with alignment. This is play at the centerpoint in the steering box. I've had 2 boxes go bad with age and they exhibited play when the wheels were straight ahead. As soon as you started to turn either way, the play would go away and the steering was normal. Both were worn bad enough that i couldnt eliminate the play with the slack adjustment screw. One of them got so bad, it would lock up just as i was beginning to turn and required a quick jerk to complete the turning manuver.
fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: Steering movement

Post by fiat218 »

azruss wrote:no, this has nothing to do with alignment. This is play at the centerpoint in the steering box. I've had 2 boxes go bad with age and they exhibited play when the wheels were straight ahead. As soon as you started to turn either way, the play would go away and the steering was normal. Both were worn bad enough that i couldnt eliminate the play with the slack adjustment screw. One of them got so bad, it would lock up just as i was beginning to turn and required a quick jerk to complete the turning manuver.
I wil try adjust it tomorrow, alignment went great,
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider
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kmead
Posts: 1069
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2008 9:24 pm
Your car is a: 1969 850 SC 1970 124 SC 85 X19
Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Re: Steering movement

Post by kmead »

This adjustment should be done with the front wheels off the ground, this way you can feel any binding if you have tightened it too much.

Karl
Karl

1969 Fiat 850 Sports Coupe
1970 Fiat 124 Sports Coupe
1985 Bertone X1/9
fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: Steering movement

Post by fiat218 »

kmead wrote:This adjustment should be done with the front wheels off the ground, this way you can feel any binding if you have tightened it too much.

Karl
Oh I already did it, seem great
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider
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