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Old 07-07-2014, 12:59 PM   #1
M3hta1
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How to tighten up steering

Hi guys. I have a 2014 Camaro SS/RS. I love the car. I am going on a road trip in three weeks and will be hitting some mountain roads. For around town it isn't bad but I can't help but notice how much play is in the steering.

What do I have to do to get this tightened up so I can't turn the steering wheel much without the car moving in that direction?

I have looked into sway bars, strut braces etc. I don't think the ride is that bad but I would just like to tighten the steering up and get rid of the play in it.
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Old 07-07-2014, 01:18 PM   #2
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your car should drive perfect if you have a good aligment and well balanced whells and tires.
check all that first.
look for real professionals to check for aligments, not a pepboys guy.
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Old 07-07-2014, 01:19 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3hta1 View Post
Hi guys. I have a 2014 Camaro SS/RS. I love the car. I am going on a road trip in three weeks and will be hitting some mountain roads. For around town it isn't bad but I can't help but notice how much play is in the steering.

What do I have to do to get this tightened up so I can't turn the steering wheel much without the car moving in that direction?

I have looked into sway bars, strut braces etc. I don't think the ride is that bad but I would just like to tighten the steering up and get rid of the play in it.
Radius Rod bushings is what you're looking for.

Quote:
Originally Posted by alex3d View Post
your car should drive perfect if you have a good aligment and well balanced whells and tires.
check all that first.
look for real professionals to check for aligments, not a pepboys guy.
Alignment shouldn't affect how tight your steering feels.
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Old 07-07-2014, 01:19 PM   #4
M3hta1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alex3d View Post
your car should drive perfect if you have a good aligment and well balanced whells and tires.
check all that first.
look for real professionals to check for aligments, not a pepboys guy.
The car drives fine, there is just play in the steering that I am wanting to get rid of.
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Old 07-07-2014, 02:04 PM   #5
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+1 to the Stig. Radius rod bushings. You can also replace the steering rack bushing while you're in there too for only $30 more. They make inserts if you don't want to do a full replacement.

I went with the Prothane inserts and steering rack bushing from JDP motorsports. I think it only cost $40 for the parts and had them installed in my garage in an hour or so.

Steering rack:
http://www.jdpmotorsports.com/manufa...amaro-ss-7-703

Inserts:
http://www.jdpmotorsports.com/manufa...amaro-ss-7-239

If you prefer the full bushing:
http://www.jdpmotorsports.com/manufa...amaro-ss-7-238
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Old 07-07-2014, 02:33 PM   #6
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Thanks gents for the info. At least I know what I am looking for.
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Old 07-07-2014, 02:39 PM   #7
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if the toe is out in the front or the rear it can effect how the steering feels not so much looseness, but unresponsiveness, when was the last alignment done?
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Old 07-07-2014, 03:37 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by Rob@WretchedMS View Post
if the toe is out in the front or the rear it can effect how the steering feels not so much looseness, but unresponsiveness, when was the last alignment done?
My camaro is brand new. 1k miles.
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Old 07-07-2014, 03:49 PM   #9
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Play in steering = sitting stopped, with the car off (no dash lights on) but the wheel unlocked, wiggle the wheel, if you don't feel any 'looseness' it's not loose steering.

it's a bit of a terminology thing,
Loose steering means excessive play in the linkage causing the tires to move when the steering wheel doesn't, and vise versa. (which i don't think you have, but anything is possible, like a loose coupler bolt or something.)

Unresponsive steering means that the linkage is tight, and the wheels are controlled 100% by the steering wheel, but due to the alignment settings can cause the feel of the car at speed to be less responsive than it should.

Just because the car is new doesn't mean there isn't something wrong, or that the alignment is good. I don't know the exact numbers, but only 1 in every 50 or so cars is 'aligned', the they typically batch align them by doing one car, then the next batch of 25 or 50 or what ever gets the same settings, but they never see an actual alignment.

It's something that isn't that hard to verify, ask the dealer that you bought it from to check the alignment and print it out for you. i'm sure they will.
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