Jaynik

When we turn the steering wheel, occasionally (especially with the engine OFF so power steering isnt on) there is a loud POP and the wheel turns but the tires do not. This allowed the wheel to turn untill it broke the SRS cable drive.

The linkage is tight and isn't slipping, as is the steering wheel. It is very hard to tell where the POP is coming from. Any ideas?

Maybe the rack is skipping teeth inside the gear box? Maybe something with the column?

We adjusted the rack guide to no avail. Im at a loss. Help!

itsnotfast

Are your inner tie rods tight? If it were the steering rack or the column, I would thinkg it would be grinding or constant popping as the wheel turns. You have a severe problem and that car is extremely unsafe to drive.

Jaynik

TRUST me we are NOT driving this car. The inner ties are worn but not THAT worn. There is a few certain spots you can find while turning the wheel that will pop everytime.

I'm thinking we are either popping something inside the upper part of the steering column (is that possible?) or skipping one or more teeth inside the gear box. Problem is the pop is so loud it vibrates through the whole column and gearbox and the source is hard to pinpoint.

Is it even physically possible for gearbox problems to make the wheel turn past its points and break the srs/horn wiring or does that HAVE to be within the column. We def. broke those wires....

Jaynik

Oh wow I just noticed that typo. Correction: trust me, we are NOT driving this car

Jaynik

Update: Took it to the shop, it was the rack

nic_nac

i wonder if that's my problem...i turn the steering wheel and hear a little pop as well sometimes even when breaking at low speeds..shop says everything looks fine but i don't trust them and i can't seem to find the problem.