Please help --what are the symptoms of a bad -rack and pinion

SMITTY5454

MEMBER
1997 EAGLE TALON
182,000 MILES

Hello-while iam driving down the road and hit a bump or small hole in road -the front end kinda feels like its jumping to one side or the other and the steering wheel jerks hard --the bottom control arms have been replaced and the ball joints are made into the control arm so the ball joints are new -- the top control arms and ball joints are not new but appeare to be in good condition-- I did a phsycial inspection with a pry bar to see if I could get them to move to find out if there was any- free play -(Loosnes)- -no freeplay was found in the ball joints--- the outer tie rodes are not loose and have no freeplay --the front end does not make any weird noises when I hit bumps-- and the steering wheel is straight with the car and it doesnt pull to one side unless I hit bumps or taking off-- and when I take off from a stop light the steering wheel pulls bad and kinda feel like wheels are? Fighting each other maybe?---And when I make a sharp turn in ether direction the wheel pulls it self over hard -

1 Reply

RIVERMIKERAT

MECHANIC
6,110 POSTS

Check the steering rack mounts. Check the inner tie sockets on the steering rack. Tighten or replace the bushings as needed.

Lift the front end. Turn the wheel completely one direction. On the side with the rack extended, grasp the bellows boot where it meets the rack housing firmly, enough to collapse the boot and feel the socket inside. Have someone move the steering wheel back and forth enough to get the wheels to move in and out a little. You should feel the rack move as you feel the wheels move. Do this on both sides. Any in and out play between the rack and inner socket rod means the rod socket should be replaced.

Check the connection between the steering column and the rack input, including the coupler, for play.