Steering Vibration

[CamaroCracka]

I took my car to Sebring a few months back and on the first few laps the cutout pipe wore through the power steering return line. I had to drive it a few miles with no power steering fluid to get it back to the trailer. Since nobody makes that line, I spliced it with a brass barb fitting and all seemed well until I went to take it to OSW to get some scans in the quarter. When I went to turn the wheel just to get it on the trailer there was a pulsing that could be felt in the wheel.

Since there are so few times at OSW that are convenient for me to get out there, I decided to take a couple passes anyway. The result was that the wastegate clamp vibrated loose and melted the power steering reservoir. I figured no big deal because I was going to have to replace the pump anyway.

Today I replaced the pump and there is still pulsing with the car on jackstands and no front wheels on it. After I put the pump on, I filled it up and turned the wheel a dozen times lock to lock to bleed out air. After I started it, I turned the wheel another dozen times lock to lock and that is where I felt the pulsing still. I'm thinking I messed up the rack running it without fluid. Before I just replace the rack, I figured I would run it by you guys and see if anyone has a different opinion or advice, like maybe there was something special I had to do to get air out of the rack. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.

[CamaroCracka]

One other thing. Can you take the rack out completely from the bottom of the car or will I have to remove the down pipe or anything else to get it out.

I disconnected toe links and it seems to have more vibration turning right and it shows up as you approach full steer when turning the wheels with front end on jack stands. I could be felt with very little steering input while driving. I felt a vibration turning left as well but it was less pronounced.

I did find the driver's LCA is going out. It has more lateral play than the passenger side, but still very little movement in and out. I don't think that is the cause of the vibration, but I will replace it while I am in there.

[CamaroCracka]

Turned out to be the rack. The real disappointment was the brand new OEM pump I put on failed on the test drive. Old pump is back in, albeit a little melted. It is also throwing a C0710-5A Steering Position not Plausible error. I'm pretty certain I did not get the wheel and the rack lined up correctly even though it looks lined up correctly. I'm going to take it to a shop with a scanner tomorrow to see if they can recalibrate it.

[gtstorey]

Probably needs an alignment. It doesn’t like the steering wheel being off center more than just a tiny amount.

[CamaroCracka]

Aligned and all is back to normal. Receipt said they centered steering the and reset the SAS all for in the price of the alignment.

As far as being able to do it all from under the car, you can. The trick is to disconnect the shock from the driver's side knuckle and let the knuckle hang forward. Be careful of your wheel sensor and brake lines getting stretched. If you don't disconnect the sway bar link, you will have to turn the rack to the get steering bar around the sway bar link, but it can be done.