I agree with the other posters... and will add that a bad steering universal can cause rattle/shimmy/slow steering. One must examine the entire front suspension to be entirely sure. There are many front end components that translate bumps into rattles and funky steering wheel movement. The year of your car indicates a close inspection of everything up front may be in order, and is very easy to do. A helper, a jack, & some jackstands will get you started.

A little lube on the offending universal, usually the lower one, might help you diagnose the drama.

From my experience with a completely f.u.b.a.r steering universal on my 1990, there was plenty of shimmy at the steering wheel, left to right motion, upon acceleration... not front to back motion. As well, the steering was slow and at times felt as if it was binding. Lubed the lower universal and that resolved the issue for awhile. Eventually, the steering universal needed to be replaced as the steering degenerated & felt dangerously unresponsive.


Peace, Jon

If I'm reading you right, the column itself is loose, so you can push and pull on it some. If you can't get someone to do that while you look, you could check the rack mounting bolts in the crossmember, the dash support and column mounting screws, and u-joint clamping screws in that order of likelihood. I doubt the u-joints got so bad the joint itself is responsible for that play. Usually they get stiff and lumpety when first they go dry.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

hi there. could be steering u joint, or tie rod ends, ball joints. jack up front of car both wheels, jiggle wheels top to bottom side to side to find exess play. have helper turn steering wheel and check u joint. also see if steering rack is tight. good luck