FamilyCar

Driver front wheel can be moved left and right about +1/8" probably less than a 1/4" Wheel can't be moved up and down. I don't hear any grinding. Drove car fairly hard a laguna yesterday, felt OK. Can I run the car? Pack the wheel bearings?

deep_uv

IMHO, Not without new bearings.

walterj

Is it in the vertical or horizontal plane? Vertical is a wheel bearing... horizontal is a tie rod and I'd not drive with a sloppy one at all since the whole steering thing is somewhat important

FamilyCar

moves on horizontal axis 1/8-1/4" of play.

sorry, I'm a lousy mechanic. Do those things loosen up further and fail. Other than sloppy handling do a risk creating a catastrophic failure, possible loss of control of the car?

FamilyCar

ie., moves in the way it would if you were turning the steering wheel.

ltc

NO

walterj

+1

Colin 90 C2

sounds like a tie rod end.
pretty easy change out.
make sure to measure the amount of threads when replacing, so to keep your alignment close.

FamilyCar

Did you say something Itc? LOL. Seriously, appreciate the opinion. If play comes from tie rod assembly is that a diy w/ simple tools? Event tomorrow LS

FamilyCar

These pieces circled in red?

wsybert

No way. Your life is not worth the potential downside of the components letting go. I wouldn't put my car on a track unless it was 100%.

FamilyCar

I need 2 track cars.

Jasko

Probably part # 3 above - the fork - only part in the assembly with bushings. The rest of the assembly is rigid.

Dave

garrett376

Devil's advocate - if it's a wobbly bushing in part #3, it's designed so it is unlikely it would come apart - might get more wobbly, but if it's #3 it's not going to separate. I would just make sure you're not looking at something else that's wrong.

How did you notice the problem? What make you investigate?

springer3

True, but not really the point. With lash in the steering, you are running a physics experiment with unknown consequences. Perhaps not likely, but you could encounter an instability that would cause that wheel to flutter. You could lose control of the car in a turn. Stay off the track, and be extremely cautious on road until the steering is fixed. The life you save could be mine.