Steering Rack Shaft Play - Dynamic Toe

[StlRomAniaN]

Hey everyone.

Since winter, my car has been experiencing vibrations from the front right area, which are speed based. On top of this, my car likes to wander during acceleration. Not exactly safe. Basically, the front right toe is changing on the fly as the speed increases.

I initially thought it was the inner tie rod itself due the play in it when I hit it. A clunk is heard every time I hit it from the bottom. I changed it and it wasn't the inner tie rod, but I noticed that the shaft itself coming from the steering rack has play in it. I can grab it with my hand and move it. With that being said, it's not the tie rod causing me problems, but the shaft within the tie rod.

Are there any adjustments I can do to tighten this shaft? Do I need new bushings? Do I need a new rack?

In case no one is familiar with how it all looks down there, here's a picture (note the minor leak):




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[StlRomAniaN]

Or is the play normal? Perhaps, the whole rack is sliding a bit due to a worn bushing?


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[maddoggyusa]

most racks have a pre-load adjustment you can adjust to take out some play. I've read some people adjust this and can fix their problems. I don't think too many people mess with this... they just get a new rack.

[StlRomAniaN]

Originally Posted by maddoggyusa

most racks have a pre-load adjustment you can adjust to take out some play. I've read some people adjust this and can fix their problems. I don't think too many people mess with this... they just get a new rack.

Would you try adjusting it first prior to getting a new rack? Would you happen to know where this adjustment nut is?

This all happened back in winter when my car got too sideways on the freeway due to cold tires spinning. They finally caught grip, but it was violent. Have had the vibration since then.


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[maddoggyusa]

yea i been following your other thread. if you look at your rack... looks like there is a torx nut below where the shaft comes out to connect to the intermediate shaft.

if you look at the photos here... you will see the torx nut

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2010-2011-20...pZJHQ2&vxp=mtr


on a hydraulic rack... i think this is more like adding resistance to the shaft to prevent it from moving. if it's accessible, it's probably worth tightening a bit to see if it helps. you can always mark it with a marker good to move it back to the original setting if this isn't your problem. but you might have to remove the whole rack to access it which would be a PIA

you can see this guy adjusting it on a bench

[Spec]

BMR has a steering rack bushing that may help your situation. Its only like $30.



http://www.bmrsuspension.com/?page=p...&productid=512

[StlRomAniaN]

Originally Posted by maddoggyusa

yea i been following your other thread. if you look at your rack... looks like there is a torx nut below where the shaft comes out to connect to the intermediate shaft.

if you look at the photos here... you will see the torx nut

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2010-2011-20...pZJHQ2&vxp=mtr


on a hydraulic rack... i think this is more like adding resistance to the shaft to prevent it from moving. if it's accessible, it's probably worth tightening a bit to see if it helps. you can always mark it with a marker good to move it back to the original setting if this isn't your problem. but you might have to remove the whole rack to access it which would be a PIA

you can see this guy adjusting it on a bench

Thanks for following along. I decided to create a new thread because the other one had all the other possible options so I wanted to focus on this.

Thanks for the pictures of the adjustment screw/nut. I'll take a peek at it. I have a small leak at the shaft end seal anyways so I might just buy a new rack if I can't adjust the rack without removing it.


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[StlRomAniaN]

Originally Posted by Spec

BMR has a steering rack bushing that may help your situation. Its only like $30.



http://www.bmrsuspension.com/?page=p...&productid=512

Thanks for the recommendation. I'm going to go down and see if I can mount a GoPro near my rack and bushing. Then I'll turn the wheels and see what I see. This will dictate whether I buy a bushing or rack. New rack comes with everything--bushing, tie rods, etc.


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[StlRomAniaN]

I did the "dry park" test. Check out my rubber bellows. Looks like both ends are leaking. I confirmed this by checking my steering fluid reservoir--the dip stick is dry.

Driver side tie rod:


Passenger side tie rod:


Weird thing is that my steering isn't heavy from the loss of fluid, but it did make a pretty interesting and loud clunk sound when I actually reversed off and turned the tires (after the test). Also, the wandering went away for now--it's so random. However, I'm getting more looseness at speed and under load. For example, accelerating and crossing over into another lane makes the the steering wheel move and feel numb.

The bushings seemed to pass the test by the way. I didn't see any movement of the rack. It was fixed to the chassis. I have videos, but I'll wait to post those via YouTube.

Sounds like a bad rack, no?


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[Black_SS10]

Sounds like you may need to just replace the rack.

[StlRomAniaN]

Originally Posted by Black_SS10

Sounds like you may need to just replace the rack.

That's what I'm thinking. I just want to make sure before I dump money into that. What part sticks out the most that suggests replacing the rack?


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[JusticePete]

Originally Posted by StlRomAniaN

Would you try adjusting it first prior to getting a new rack? Would you happen to know where this adjustment nut is?

This all happened back in winter when my car got too sideways on the freeway due to cold tires spinning. They finally caught grip, but it was violent. Have had the vibration since then.


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The violent incident and immediate vibration after the incident are key to the trouble shooting process. If the vibration started after a 'violent' incident, some thing was damaged, bent or broken. Did the vibration start immediately?

[StlRomAniaN]

Originally Posted by JusticePete

The violent incident and immediate vibration after the incident are key to the trouble shooting process. If the vibration started after a 'violent' incident, some thing was damaged, bent or broken. Did the vibration start immediately?

All my suspension pieces are straight and solid. All that moves is my inner tie rod on my passenger side. It's not the tie rod sockets fault either. It's the shaft end that comes out of the steering reck that has play.


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[StlRomAniaN]

It was around that time frame, yes. To be honest, not sure if it was before or after. It either caused the incident or was caused by the incident.


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