Diagnosing Power Steering Rack.....*video*

[absolutegtr]

Currently my power steering fluid is SLOWLY leaking out of the drivers side boot, and although replacing the rack is the correct option, I plan on changing it out at a later date.

The problem is my alignment is terribly off on my car and has completly ate away my new ties. So before I buy new tires, I need an alignment...but will I be able to get an alignment with a bad power steering rack?

Heres a video of the sound my steering rack is making: (Does this sound indicate shot outer tie-rod ends, yet it sounds like it is coming from inside the engine bay, so maybe the inner tie-rods?)

Engine is off, and I am rocking the steering wheel back and forth.



Upon inspection, the outer tie-rods look fine. What do you all think?

[brewmastr]

wow that is loud, did you check your inner tie rod as well as the outer, jack up the car and shake the hub by hand left and right not up and down on each wheel, see if you have play in either side, seems like from the video is on the drivers side you have the noise, but then again im not there to hear it.

[absolutegtr]

wow that is loud, did you check your inner tie rod as well as the outer, jack up the car and shake the hub by hand left and right not up and down on each wheel, see if you have play in either side, seems like from the video is on the drivers side you have the noise, but then again im not there to hear it.

Yea, for some reason my cellphone picks up the sound alot louder than it really is.

As for checking the horizontal play in the wheel, there is some play. But, it when moving the wheel back and forth the outer tie-rod is moving with the wheel. My best guess is that, perhaps, the inner tierods are shot, since that is where the sound seems to be coming from.

Is there a way to check if it is indeed the inner tierods that are bad? Can they be replaced, or does the whole rack have to be replaced?

[brewmastr]

the inner rods can be replaced, you check inner rods the same way you do outer but instead of looking at the outer ball joint, you do it more by feel , grab the tie rod with your hand while someone is shaking the wheel that way you can feel for the play in the rod, its fairly obvious if they have failed, you will feel the tie rod move back in forth but the steering wont be moving, remeber small left right motion with the wheel, not alot or you will move the wheels around and may miss diagnose altogether.

[absolutegtr]

the inner rods can be replaced, you check inner rods the same way you do outer but instead of looking at the outer ball joint, you do it more by feel , grab the tie rod with your hand while someone is shaking the wheel that way you can feel for the play in the rod, its fairly obvious if they have failed, you will feel the tie rod move back in forth but the steering wont be moving, remeber small left right motion with the wheel, not alot or you will move the wheels around and may miss diagnose altogether.

Sounds good man. Thanks alot! I will give it all a shot tomorrow!

[junkie1.8TQ]

Has anyone have an update on this... I'm having this same problem.. Also, just recently my steering wheel makes a low squeak or squeal sound when i turn at low speeds or sometime at a sitting position.

[absolutegtr]

Has anyone have an update on this... I'm having this same problem.. Also, just recently my steering wheel makes a low squeak or squeal sound when i turn at low speeds or sometime at a sitting position.

If you are the same person who started a thread about this earlier, than it sounds like your strut that is making this sound.

As for my power steering rack problem.....the sound that is depicted in the video is ALOT louder on the video. I guess the camera just picks up that frequency. After hearing that sound on other cars, I decided that my steering rack is fine, for now, but it still leaks.

[junkie1.8TQ]

thanks for the reply... I'll check my struts out to see if they're tighten down properly.
My car does exactly what your is doing when i move my steering wheel left and right like that. Kinda odd and can't seem to get a definite answer to what the problem is.

[fitch303]

F8ck, mine makes this noise also. Although not nearly as loud....not even close. Also sometimes my steering "wonders" as in the front end is not tight.

[Trev]

Does any one know where i can get a good price on the steering rack?

I found this place from an older post but it looks like they dont have any in stock.

http://www.carsteering.com/

[absolutegtr]

Try calling them

[Trev]

Just called, they have them in stock. $385 shipped is a dam good price.
Dealer quoted me over $1300

[absolutegtr]

Just called, they have them in stock. $385 shipped is a dam good price.
Dealer quoted me over $1300

What was the core charge?

[Trev]

What was the core charge?

Core charge is $200 and they have a return shipping package for $12

[bwoy1981]

I did mine with their racks and its a great piece!

[Trev]

Hows it holding up? How long have you had it? Did you install it yourself?

[bwoy1981]

^ Had it for about 3 mths now. Drtybrd installed it and its been great!

[Trev]

Sounds good. Im going to be ordering it on Monday.