Steering rack with play in front wheels and steering wheel

jruppert · Jun 20, 2008

I have had a problem for a while now with some play in the steering wheel. It isnt terribly bad but it is more then I like. I replaced the inner and outer tie rods recently and found fluid to be leaking out of the rack from where I removed the boots. The other day I had it up on a rack at a friends service shop and was changing the oil. I grabbed the front wheels and moved them back and forth. From the wheel to the rack is tight. However, the wheel still moves. After moving the wheel back and forth a few times I noticed the other side was moving also. I dont believe this is normal. Is it time for a new rack or do you think its just a matter of replacing the seals within the rack? Thanks

jruppert · Jun 20, 2008

I am also finding that it wants to shoot power steering fluid out of the cap. I thought it may have been because it was somewhat loose. I put a different cap on and its soaking the whole drivers side down with fluid. errr

Chythar · Jun 20, 2008

The cap will tend to shoot out fluid if you keep turning the wheels when the engine isn't running.

So...you were able to rotate a front wheel by hand, and the other wheel moved as well. Unless there's something more you're not saying it sounds like the rack is fine. You could have play in the steering shaft, rather than a problem in the rack. There are two bolts holding the steering shaft on - one under the dash and one where the shaft connects to the rack. Make sure both those bolts are nice & tight.

jruppert · Jun 20, 2008

The fluid shot out while I was out driving the car around. As for the wheels, I am not rotating but grabbing the wheel and moving it right to left. This is as if you were checking to see if you have any bad inner and outer tie rods. The wheel will move back and forth around 2 inches. When this wheel is moving right to left, so is the wheel on the opposite side.

Chythar · Jun 20, 2008

Sorry, when I said rotating I didn't mean spinning the wheel. I meant what you described; facing the wheel, you pull the right edge and push the left. And two inches is a lot of play in the steering. If you can move one wheel and the other does not move, then either the tie rods or the rack is in trouble. If you can't turn one wheel without moving the other, then the rack is fine. Check out the steering shaft like I described.

jruppert · Jun 20, 2008

Thanks for the help. As to the fluid going everywhere? Any ideas? Like I said, I was driving around when this happened.

HISSIN50 · Jun 20, 2008

I don't think I follow. If you push or pull on a wheel and the other one moves exactly in concert with your efforts (there is no lag, or taking up of slack), I dont see the issue. It can be normal for the wheels to both move a little before you encounter great effort (if you really reefed on it and the steering wheel was not locked, you could turn the wheels from lock to lock).

The above info was right about the fluid. With the car off, fluid is expelled from the rack as you turn the wheels. But since the pump isnt spinning, that fluid is not replenished back into the rack. The reservoir overflows out the discharge vent in the top of the cap. If this does not apply to you (as you said it didnt), I'd put on safety equipment, pop the hood and watch for leaks while someone turns the steering wheel back and forth. ATF can really spray aggressively out of a pinhole leak, so be careful.

One last note: The area inside the bellows should be dry. If yours were wet, the end seals of the rack are leaking and should be addressed at some point.

Good luck.

jruppert · Jun 20, 2008

I checked the bolts on the shaft between the rack and pinion and steering wheel. They appear to be tight. I couldnt get them any tighter. I had my dad turn the steering wheel back and forth and I watched the movement of the shaft. Everything was tight and was consistent with the movement of the wheel. Everything was consistent all the way down to the rack and pinion to where the shaft goes into.

As for the fluid situation, earlier today the fluid had sprayed out along the drivers side. I pulled the cap off and the reservoir was empty. I poured a little bit of fluid until it was where it needed to be according to the cap. I took it down the road for a couple miles and came back. Fluid had sprayed out once again. It is coming out of the little pin hole. I took the cap off this time and the fluid was all the way at the top of the reservoir. How can this be? The first time it was empty, then filled. Then it sprayed outward. So then it should be lower if it sprayed out. It was the opposite.

5's enough · Jun 21, 2008

You did not mention rack bushings. Mine were shot, allowing the rack to move side to side a bit. New urethanes installed and rack is nice and tight.

jruppert · Jun 21, 2008

I should look into that as well.

Anyone know about the fluid issue?

Steering rack with play in front wheels and steering wheel

jruppert

jruppert

Chythar

Recently finished repairing my rear

jruppert

Chythar

Recently finished repairing my rear

jruppert

HISSIN50

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jruppert

5's enough

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jruppert

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