bad steering rack or inner tie rods?

[jackasspyro2]

Finally get the old gal running right with a sweet diy alignment and of course more issues. I have some steering wobble. Jack the front up to wiggle the wheel, and most certainly it is either the inner tie rods or rack(side to side play).

I am leaning towards the rack because the play is very even on both sides. I would find it strange that the inner rods would blow this even(any other time i have blown them it is usually one side much worse then the other).

All parts besides the rack are less then 2 years old with pretty much track only miles on them(I daily a bike). So the parts are "fairly" new. Anyone know of a way I can test to make sure it is just the rack or just the inner and not both(That way I don't have to replace my whole set up for no reason).

specs
old ass s13 rack
energy suspension rack bushings
ikeya formula inner rods
spl outer
_________

[rawgarage]

Re do it all...

[Mikester]

(any other time i have blown them it is usually one side much worse then the other).



Giggity.

"old ass rack" pretty much says it all... but if the rack itself isn't leaking, it could be as simple as bad steering (rack) bushings... or did you already replace those (is this what you meant by suspension rack bushings)?

With newer, aluminum or urethane rack bushings, any play in the steering will be exacerbated- this is why OEM racks have relatively soft, rubber bushings everywhere (to make up for the slop and cater to driver comfort). This said, the play you are seeing might be normal; and the wobble could be a product of your DIY alignment.


Have you verified your wheel balance is good? Have you tried wobbling the front wheels with someone in the cockpit holding the steering wheel- Even when the steering wheel is locked, there is still some side to side play.

Mike

[soundboy]

How's the steering column flex joint?
The small u joint. I can't remember the proper name

[jackasspyro2]

Giggity.

"old ass rack" pretty much says it all... but if the rack itself isn't leaking, it could be as simple as bad steering (rack) bushings... or did you already replace those (is this what you meant by suspension rack bushings)?

With newer, aluminum or urethane rack bushings, any play in the steering will be exacerbated- this is why OEM racks have relatively soft, rubber bushings everywhere (to make up for the slop and cater to driver comfort). This said, the play you are seeing might be normal; and the wobble could be a product of your DIY alignment.


Have you verified your wheel balance is good? Have you tried wobbling the front wheels with someone in the cockpit holding the steering wheel- Even when the steering wheel is locked, there is still some side to side play.

Mike

Balance is good. The bushings are poly. The rack has been leaking so bad that I never keep fluid in it because it would come right back out. Been like that way for wayyy to long. New rack on the way. But I will keep looking into all this. Even if the rack is not the cause of the wobble i have been putting that off for way too long.

How's the steering column flex joint?
The small u joint. I can't remember the proper name

I am not familiar with the part you speak of. Care to find a blow apart Pic and point to it for me?

[Mikester]

I am not familiar with the part you speak of. Care to find a blow apart Pic and point to it for me?

Horribly leaking rack is a great place to start lol.

He is referring to the universal joint between where the steering column interfaces with the steering rack and goes up into the cabin...

[soundboy]

What he said

[jackasspyro2]

new inner rods on the way. Looks like i am just "redoing" the whole front...again..lol :(

thanks for all the help everyone

[Agentnumber2]

I'm having an issue with steering wobble as well and I have replaced my rack, inner and outer tie rods (s14 moog), balanced wheels, got an alignment, replaced rack bushings (twice), and still no luck.

A common recommendation that many people have is to replace the ball joints, and so I replace the LCA's with fresh ball joints and bushings and again, the problem has not been solved.

hopefully you get to the bottom of yours.

best of luck!

[ffprz]

Where did you get the rack from?

[Tyler_240]

I just did my rack a few weeks ago. I got mine from NAPA. Order some energy suspension bushing and moog outer tie rod ends, the rack comes with everything else. $200ish + $81 core.

Remember to use ATF and not P\S Fluid. Bleed the rack by moving your wheels lock to lock with the car jacked up. It takes about 30 minutes .

I had to bend one of the rack to rack hardlines out of my way in order to get the bracket to clearance.