# Loose Steering **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 21, 2014, 4:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758 "2014-10-21T04:44:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Demo\_Beta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Demo\_Beta](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Demo_Beta)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 4:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/1 "2014-10-21T04:44:36Z")
I just drove a car I’m looking to buy and the steering wheel was pretty loose. Not jerky, just sloppy. I can tell it needs an alignment, but what could I be looking at in order to tighten it up? I’ve learned that front ends can get pricey pretty quick. Cheers. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 4:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/2 "2014-10-21T04:57:46Z")
Year, Make, Model, mileage? ---
**Author:** ![Demo\_Beta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Demo\_Beta](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Demo_Beta)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 4:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/3 "2014-10-21T04:59:29Z")
1995, Buick, LeSabre, 66k. Mint! ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 5:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/4 "2014-10-21T05:00:12Z")
Why consider something that needs work on something that could be dangerous and expensive? ---
**Author:** ![Demo\_Beta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Demo\_Beta](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Demo_Beta)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 5:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/5 "2014-10-21T05:02:08Z")
@volvo v70 Because I can get it for $2300. Even if I have to put five or six into it it’s a deal. Maybe I’ll get it for less knowing what it will cost. ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 5:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/6 "2014-10-21T05:06:09Z")
Pull 10 Ben Franklins out of your pocket and if seller refuses, walk away. ---
**Author:** ![Demo\_Beta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Demo\_Beta](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Demo_Beta)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 5:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/7 "2014-10-21T05:09:10Z")
@insightful‌ I wish. Car prices are shite around Detroit. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 5:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/8 "2014-10-21T05:09:19Z")
**" I can get it for $2300"** If it was in superb condition, it would be worth–at most–$2,000. Since it obviously needs front-end work, I wouldn’t value it at more than…perhaps…$1,200. ---
**Author:** ![Demo\_Beta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Demo\_Beta](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Demo_Beta)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 5:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/9 "2014-10-21T05:16:45Z")
Parts cars sell for $1,200. If you saw my other posts about that old Regal I ruined…I got $580 for that. ---
**Author:** ![knfenimore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@knfenimore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/knfenimore)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 5:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/10 "2014-10-21T05:19:14Z")
Tell him you would like an inspection that you’ll pay for. That way you’ll know what’s needed and can bargain him down on repairs. ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 6:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/11 "2014-10-21T06:29:54Z")
Personally, I’d run away from a 1995 GM anything. Many of these cars used a quasi-OBD-II system that used an OBD-II connector but OBD-I protocols and codes. Finding a code reader to pull codes was difficult 10 years ago. Now the car is 19 years old. And it has known and potentially unsafe problems? Take the $2800 plus the five or six extra and find a better ride. Trust us. $7800 to $8800 can buy a much better car. ---
**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 6:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/12 "2014-10-21T06:30:34Z")
I’d suggest waiting until next summer when the ice is off the bid pond. Then hop on the Ferry to Milwaukee and you can find those cars for just over $1000. I’d even buy lunch. PS; Bring big pistolla, many bandits. Yosemite ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 7:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/13 "2014-10-21T07:08:59Z")
I agree with @BustedKnuckles‌. It will need repair and I doubt the parts are going to be cheap unless you use used parts…19 year old used parts. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 7:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/14 "2014-10-21T07:27:59Z")
Well I would suspect the inner tie rod ends. My 86 Riviera was loose and it was the inner ones but it was cheaper to replace the whole steering rack for about $500 than repair it. Might be different now. ---
**Author:** ![Demo\_Beta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Demo\_Beta](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Demo_Beta)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 8:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/15 "2014-10-21T08:16:39Z")
Eh, screw it. I’ll look for something else. But really, I can’t find anything decent. ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 9:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/16 "2014-10-21T09:21:23Z")
Take @Yosemite up on his offer. Sometimes you need to go out of area to find the gems. My latest project car I found 120 miles away in Alabama while visiting my SIL. I could never have found such a gem in or near Atlanta for the price I paid. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 9:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/17 "2014-10-21T09:35:10Z")
Agreed I live in Los Angeles, but I had to go well into Orange County to find a decent used car for my mom, that wasn’t abused and overpriced Bought it from an older guy who took very good care of the car. ---
**Author:** ![Demo\_Beta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Demo\_Beta](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Demo_Beta)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 9:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/18 "2014-10-21T09:49:52Z")
I dunno, I see the same prices for “good” older cars all over the state. Sometimes over the border in Ohio they are a bit cheaper, but not really to justify the 200 mile hassle. ---
**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/19 "2014-10-21T18:01:50Z")
Maybe we all got stuck with the junk and the decent ones went to “Cash For Clunkers” My first impression of that program was just that. I always buy used, and right now have a 11 year old truck. Maybe I could afford to upgrade and get one only 8 years old, but many got crushed. Yosemite ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758/20 "2014-10-21T18:05:11Z")
Ummmm, a 1995, Buick, LeSabre was BUILT with loose steering, IMHO… $2300 is a bit high but the engine is Series II 3800 V6 and will run about 300,000 miles. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loose-steering/87758.md?page=2)