Sv Binding Steering

[outlaw]

OK guys, here's how it happens. Under normal operation, that is moving traffic, interstate driving etc., the steering is perfect, but when I get caught in some slow moving traffic for an extended period of time, my steering begins to actually stick or bind either side of center. It is easily corrected by moving the wheel, but to break away from the "stick" one ends up over correcting, thru center, and to the "stick" on the opposite side. What happens is you end up driving from "sticky spot" opposite to the opposing "sticky spot". Its very annoying and actually what I consider a bit dangerous when you move from the slow moving traffic (and the associated binding) to the interstate. At speed, overcorrecting is MORE than just annoying.
I talked with the guys at SV and they said they had never heard of the problem and could provide no assistance. It is difinitely heat
related. On a SV car, the steering shaft aft of the U-joint, going in the direction of the steering wheel, passes thru an aluminum tube, with a bearing on the engine end and the steering wheel end. I believe the bearing/aluminum tube is being heated by the headers (directly below) and expanding causing the shaft to bind. This n turn causes the steering to bind. I fabricated a heat shield to provide a barrier between the headers and the steering column and it improved the condition tremendously, but its not completely cured. While fabricating the the heat shield, I had to mount the lower portion to the brake master cylinders lower attach bolts. it was then I noticed the brake fluid being "cooked" from the master cylinders. The cylinders were "wet" with fluid. The fluid also caused some stains on my aluminum covered foot box. After driving the car, BEFORE I installed the heat shield, you could not touch the brake master cylinders, they were way too hot. With the heat shield, the brake master cylinders are warm to the touch now with no fluid, BUT, after extended slow driving, I still have the binding steering. Its not nearly as bad but still there. I even put some heat shield material around the shaft, but after extended slow driving, the binding returns. Have any SV owners experienced this problem? And if so, what was done? I am open for any ideas, suggestions. Someone besides me MUST have had the same experience. Other than this little annoyance, I am driving the "tar" outta this car and have never had so much fun. I'm luv'n it! You can catch a glimpse of the heat shield in the engine cmpt pics of my gallery.

Thanks for your help!

Outlaw