If I`m at a standstill and I make a hard left, into a parking spot or something, there is a "pop" sounds that comes from the left hub area. When I straighten the wheel out it`s now 45 degrees off. Eventually it pops back, but it`s done it while the car is on the move, which is kinda scary. I`ve checked everything and nothing seems to be loose.

Any ideas?

 

stripped gear inside the steering rack?

 

That`s what a few people have mentioned. I`m starting to lean that way, too.

 

Search is your friend....lol, j/p j/p, lol, couldn't resist

 

i wouldn't be telling vtecvoodoo to do a search if i were you...he might 'get the rope'...

 

anymore ideas or should I just go ahead and replace the rack?

 

I can only offer some experience I've had.

I was experiencing some weird vibrations, and found one of the possibilities was an inner socket that connects the steering rack to the tie-rod.

 

I can offer some experinece as well. I had a accident where I damaged the front wheel and bent part of the suspention components. When the car was repaired, every time I went over a bump there would be this very harsh jerk and knock that would be experineced through the wheel. I couldn't figure it out and I took it to a shop where the mechanic said that rack was fractured and was actually internally separating. When he took it out of the car it had a scar along the tubular part that slide inside of it(not really good at terminology). So Ill go ahead and replace it...

HTH

 

check the p/s rack mounts, it is possible that the p/s rack is moving back and forth in them, if the rack it self was bad it would not pop back, i have been rebuilding honda p/s racks for a long time and have never seen one strip the gears on the rack bar or steering shaft. you may have to put the car in the air before it pops back to find the problem.