Stiff Steering

[parentof5]

My 2002 malibu sunsetter lxi has very stiff steering,can it be lubricated or do i need to replace the whole cable?Can I replace the cable myself on the lift or do I need to pull it out? There is four screws on the bottom of the boat is there much more to it?

Edited June 21, 2009 by parentof5

[RTS]

You will likely need a new cable. Once they stiffen up, they are beyond repair. If it is the original cable, you were doing well to get this long out of it. The good news...once you replace the cable you will be back to 'fingertip' steering, like it should be.

[davemac]

although it probably won't help at this point, you may want to be aware that (I believe) your boat may have one or two zerk fitting on the top of the rudder component...where the steering cable meets the rudder box. You could give it a try. They are not always the easiest things to access. I bought an 18" flex line for my grease gun (<$10 at most auto parts places).

How many hours on the boat?

[parentof5]

although it probably won't help at this point, you may want to be aware that (I believe) your boat may have one or two zerk fitting on the top of the rudder component...where the steering cable meets the rudder box. You could give it a try. They are not always the easiest things to access. I bought an 18" flex line for my grease gun (<$10 at most auto parts places).

How many hours on the boat?

[parentof5]

although it probably won't help at this point, you may want to be aware that (I believe) your boat may have one or two zerk fitting on the top of the rudder component...where the steering cable meets the rudder box. You could give it a try. They are not always the easiest things to access. I bought an 18" flex line for my grease gun (<$10 at most auto parts places).

How many hours on the boat?

Thank you!! Is it something I can fix my self? Do I need to pull the boat out to fix it?

[parentof5]

You will likely need a new cable. Once they stiffen up, they are beyond repair. If it is the original cable, you were doing well to get this long out of it. The good news...once you replace the cable you will be back to 'fingertip' steering, like it should be.

Thank you!

[wienrdog]

You can replace the cable on the lift...

This is a write-up D-Goose did a while back...

(If you search a bit more, you may be able to find a reference to a process where one end of the old cable was cut off & it made the remove process easier... I can't remember which end & think they tied the new cable to the old one to skip the rope portion too. I think they cut the steering wheel end off the old cable & pulled both cables to the rear of the boat).

D-Goose steering cable removal instructions

Edit: There are some other hints in the rest of that thread.

Edited June 21, 2009 by wienrdog

[WakingMeHappy]

Perfect timing for this thread. I have a 99 Sunsetter LXI with stiff steering. I guess it's time to order the cable, read all the associated threads and get to work replacing it. Not what I want to do but better now than on the lake.

Edited June 22, 2009 by WakingMeHappy