Kaaruchi

I have 205k miles on my Honda and noticing that my steering is starting to get loose. Meaning I'll turn the wheel and it takes a little bit to catch up to the way I turned. I lifted the front and removed the tires and pulled on the rotors and didn't notice any play there. One thing I didn't do was to check how tight things were with someone turning the wheel, next step I guess. Also thinking about the power steering pump. Any other ideas on what to look for?

jdmcertified909

this is a two person job. someone at the wheel and someone under the car on ramps. its easier on rams since the wheels still have weight on them. in the air its hard to replicate the play. im betting its a worn rack and pinion or worn end rods

Kaaruchi

Thanks, your advice was spot on. Put it on the ramps and had my son wiggle the wheel. I noticed the whole steering piston moving back and forth about a 1/2". Pulled the inspection cover off of the steering manifold and had one bolt hit the ground before I had the whole cover off. So 1 mounting bolt completely off and the other is still in the mounting hole and going into the cross member and spinning freely with about a 3/4" gap. I'm guessing that there was a nut welded to the inside of the cross member that gave out and now is preventing the bolt from completely. I screwed the bolt that fell out back in and tightened it down. Am I correct in the way the bolt is screwed into the cross member, to a nut welded down? If so, souds like the whole cross member needs to come off an rebuilt. Anybody else know different?