The dreaded ooze

[Natty]

So I was curious if my wheel bearings were making my steering shake, so I jack up the car in the cold school parking lot.
What do I find? A hardened ooze running from the neck of a boot that I think goes to the tie rod. Crap.
Is it just  some sort of grease for a bearing or joint or whatever is in there?
Do I replace the boot, the tie rods, or what?
Thanks,
Jeff

[twofortysx]

You know..sometimes I have a bit of steering shake on my s14 when it's cold.  After about 5 minutes it stops (once the car warms up basically), could this be my problem as well?

[Natty]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (twofortysx @ Dec. 04 2002,11:40)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">You know..sometimes I have a bit of steering shake on my s14 when it's cold. After about 5 minutes it stops (once the car warms up basically), could this be my problem as well?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Whoa, it goes away after 5 minutes? That is bizarre.
There are a multitude of reasons though.
Tires
Alignment
Bent rim
Tire balance
Control arms
Lots of bushings
brakes
wheel bearings
steering rack
steering rack adjustment/spring
struts
tie rods
tc rods
.....

I'm gonna stop now &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':laugh:'>
Good luck. I am still gonna have a shop do it. I'll end up dropping $1500 replacing stuff only for it to be an alignment or something &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

Jeff

[twofortysx]

Yeah, for example, this morning I started up my car in the garage and let it get warmed up, then left for work and the shake didn't happen at all.

The list you provided is pretty long so:

1. How could I check these things? &nbsp;My tires are new and balanced within the last 3k miles (although this problem happened less often prior to the new tires).
2. How much do you think it would cost if I had somebody check it out?

Thanks.

[Natty]

I would think a shop would roadtest it and get it on the racks in an hour. Maybe 1 and a half. I am sure a $70 diagnostic would do it. They might even look it over for free if you have them actually fix the problem. Honestly, just call up a shop you have worked with and knows their stuff. My shop for example does only imports. The boss drives a VW ecodiesel and one of his mechanics drives an S13. It's your right to talk to them and work something out.

Honestly, if you want to DIY, you better know what you are doing or you are going to end up replacing everything and you may still not fix it. I am a DIYer, but I am having a shop do this.

That said, look for any play in the steering, that may indicate wheel bearings. Look for ozze from the boots and bushings too. But honestly, the fact that it goes away is still wierd. Heck, maybe it's normal. These cars are really connected to the road.
Good luck,
Jeff

[twofortysx]

Thanks for your help. &nbsp;It's time for an oil change, and my clutch pedal squeaks when I push it in, so I'll have them check this and that too <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[Natty]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (twofortysx @ Dec. 05 2002,6:21)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Thanks for your help. It's time for an oil change, and my clutch pedal squeaks when I push it in, so I'll have them check this and that too <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
No problem. Just note that I am not a mechanic. I just pretend I am till I brake something trying to fix it, then I have a pro do it.

I am looking into your problem though. I think I could be a steering rack.

Don't bother with the clutch pedal. The squeak is a 240sx fact of life. Some have greased of lube stuff down there and it helps for a few days. I just live with it. Now, if it is shifting or engaing differently....

Jeff

[Silviaholic]

Most shops (Pep Boys..where i work) will check the front end for free. &nbsp;Now, you said you let the car warm and it didnt happen at all... there is a list of problems but most commonly if it disappears after running it will be your lube (chassis lube 18bux) or your bearings have water in them and freeze. interesting. &nbsp;Have your front end, power steering system check and your constant velocity joints/boots. &nbsp;These are easily effect by cold. &nbsp;For shaking thats starts/stop at a specific mph, see the Natty's list. &nbsp;If wear started in the summer/spring the winter cold will multiply the effects and cause more damage if the part isnt totally worn by now.

my two worthless sence...

[Silviaholic]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Natty @ Dec. 05 2002,9:41)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">--------------
1991 White 240sx Fastback LE, stock for a while, leaky exhuast, rusty spoiler....
"Rattles are just your cars way of saying 'I love you.'"</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Your sig. sounds like my car but with a SOHC...cept my bumper is yellow...and there are dents and missing parts...and a broken auto shifter that could shift to reverse while in motion (scary)

[kanekz]

What color was the ooze. &nbsp;My tension control rod bushing are shot and when they went out, the color of ooze was clearish. &nbsp;I ordered new bushings from PDM, hoping to get here on Monday! Also, hoping that it will get rid of the steering wheel shimmy at around 60+mph. &nbsp;Now your situation doesn't really sound like my problem, but it might be, good luck.