<VV> steering question update

[Bill & Chris Strickland]

> I would disconnect the left and right side steering joints (tie rods) at the spindles and then with all the steering disconnected I would turn the wheels from 'lock to lock"

Before disconnecting anything, try it with everything connected, should 
go from side to side quite easily.  Might help to have someone watch  
while someone else does the "moving from lock-to-lock".  "If" it was 
tight all together, then maybe taking things apart would help diagnose 
things, but don't take it apart if it doesn't need fixing.  Or, it 
"could" be taken (flatbeded), not driven, to a front suspension 
specialist, a (sober) journeyman vs. a kid with a computer.

Something I often see damaged is the "center link" -- it should be quite 
straight between the inner tie rod ends.  Don't want to get anyone in 
trouble by telling how they get bent ...  The tie rods themselves should 
be straight, too.  The issue "could" be in the steering column with a 
bad upper bearing or something, or debris jammed up under the underside 
of the gas tank or trunk and against the steering shaft.

Rule of thumb is more like when these steering/suspension things go bad, 
they get loose, not tight -- maybe that "other" coast is different, and 
could be things there seize with rust? Any marks on the wheels or tires 
like maybe they collided with a curb?

Bill Strickland