Steering Wheel And Column; Steering Wheel Play; Looseness Or Play Of Steering Wheel; Steering Wheel Effort - Mazda MX-5 1990 Workshop Manual

N
N-8
®
t
MANUAL STEERING
05UONX-010
05UONX-011
- STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN
Caution
• Obtain the code number and deactivate the audio
anti-theft system before disconnecting the battery.
(Refer to page T -113.)
On-vehicle Inspection
Steering wheel play
With the wheels in the straight-ahead position, gently turn the
steering wheel to the left and right and verify that the play is
within specification.
Play; 0-30mm (0-1.18 in)
Note
• If the play exceeds specification, either the steer-
ing joints are worn or the backlash of the steering
gear is excessive.
Looseness or play of steering wheel
Move the steering wheel in directions
CD,
Cl), and @ to check
for column bearing wear, steering shaft joint play, steering
wheel looseness, and column looseness.
Steering wheel effort
1. Jack up the front of the vehicle.
2. Turn the steering wheel fully to the left and right at least 5
times.
3. Move the steering wheel to put the wheels in the straight-
ahead position.
4. Attach a pull scale to the outermost point of the steering
wheel spoke.
Then, starting with the wheels in the straight-ahead posi-
tion, measure the effort required to turn the steering wheel
to the left and to the right.
Steering wheel effort:
4.9-29.4 N (0.5-3.0 kg,
1.1-6.6 Ib)
[during one turn of steering wheel]
5. If not within specification, check the following: rotation start-
ing torque of pinion, rotation torque of each ball joint, and
steering joints.