Steering Box fix or adjustments?

[Ken Ezzell]

I have a 99 Grand Marquis in great shape except for the the steering wheel has about 3 inches of play in it.

Do I have any options to correct this besides replacing the steering box? There are only 145,000 miles on the car.

Topic

[Bill]

There are other things to check before condemning the steering box. Have a helper turn the steering wheel back and fourth removing the play while observing the steering linkage. There should be no or little vertical or horizontal movement in all of the joints.

If everything is tight then i would be replacing the steering box. There is an adjustment but if it’s worn that badly i would replace it.

[college man]

+++++1 on above. check your steering components first.
Tie rods ect… check that nothing is loose or worn.

[Daniel]

+1 on linkages. Pay attention to the “rag joint” where the steering column connects to the steering box. Bad rag joints are responsible for alot of un-needed steering box replacements.

[Author]

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