[stuartm77]

I noticed late this boating season that my lower unit had alot of side to side play in it. I noticed it when we were beach up and hanging around the back of the boat i noticed it going back and forth 3 or 4 inches when the wake would rock the boat. When on the trailer you can grab the lower unit on move it back and forth as well but the steeering wheel does not move. I took it to have it winterized and the mechanic says it gonna cost $2000 to fix,1200 parts 800 labor (says motor may have to come out to get to some nut on some kinda pin) I just want to see if anyone else has had this problem and make sure the guys not ripping me off. Hesays there is some kinda pin back there that some of the steering components are attached to and that pin is wore out because someone didnt tighten the nut. ANY insight into this would be greatly apprcieated.....thank in advanced from a newbie.....

[lomitabob]

I have a Z250 with the Merc 7.4 and a Bravo I outdrive and my mechanic told me that my gimble will have to be replaced in the next year or so...this also causes side-to-side play in the steering. He said the cost would be $1600 - $2000. Unless you completely trust your mechanic I would get a second opinion just to be sure that the problem will be cured..nothing worse than opening up the drive and finding additional problems that add to the cost.. Good Luck!

[stuartm77]

Hey i really appriciate the info. My mechanic said the same thing "gimble" . He said hes never put one on a mariah and wasnt sure if the motor had to come out or not.

[lomitabob]

From what I understand the gimble ring can be replaced without pulling the engine. If the gimble housing has to be replaced the engine has to be pulled..hope it helps...

[ridnwild]

Thats cheap. I had mine replaced. Thought it was either the pin or steering arm (square pin, square hole in arm and gimbal ring) the pin goes through. The corners wear and let it turn past the corner. It turned out to be the gimbal ring assembly. They had to pull my engine to replace it, cost about 3000.

I had a lot more problems than that. Here's the thread if you want to read,Mechanic you trust and new engine, no power