Ok, ll try to explain this the best I can...

There seems to be a 1/2 inch or so "dead spot" in my steering. Its like I can move the wheel back and forth in this area and it has no effect on the steering. Once I move it far enough left, or right, I can feel it then start to move wheels.....It makes it extremely difficult to drive straight....I think its been getting worse.....

What could this be, and what should I look for to fix it?

I was thinking either tie rods or maybe the whole steering rack is bad.

Any ideas?

thanks

Alfred

 

Check the tie rod ends. I have a 1/4 inch dead spot too and its cause my ends are bad.

 

How can I check the tie rod ends? What should I be looking for? I've never worked on the steering before...

Thanks

 

sounds like what my car was doing as well. does the car wander on the highway? put the front end up and check the front wheelberrings as well as the tie-rod ands. check the tie-rods by turning the wheel by hand and see of theres a clunk felt. if you have a clink laterally and vertically, look at the berring and balljoints.
it sounds like its a bad wheelberring to me.

 

If you have a tie-rod puller, you can pop your tie rod out and check the end joint. If you can wiggle it around effortlessly, that's probably the first thing to replace. Working your way in you can also replace the inner tie rods (sucks!) and the steering rack bushings.

you have any clunking noises?

 

hmmm, clunking noises, not really, although it does make a small noise when it leaves the dead spot and starts to turn the wheel....kinda hard to explain.....

Im going to check the tie rod ends tomorrow after work.....we'll see then

 

be carefull driving that around. try not to push it on any turns. keep what ever the ailing part is alive a little longer.

 

It's called "play".

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by awdriscol4 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ok, ll try to explain this the best I can...

There seems to be a 1/2 inch or so "dead spot" in my steering. Its like I can move the wheel back and forth in this area and it has no effect on the steering. Once I move it far enough left, or right, I can feel it then start to move wheels.....It makes it extremely difficult to drive straight....I think its been getting worse.....

What could this be, and what should I look for to fix it?

I was thinking either tie rods or maybe the whole steering rack is bad.

Any ideas?

thanks

Alfred
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Same exact thing happening to me in my 96 EX.
I changed the tie-rod ends, there was alot of play in them, but still did not fix the problem. I am thinking it is my wheel bearings, hopefully.

Besides, that i dont know what it could be, fellow HT members, please help!

 

i had the same issue ya'll are explaining. check the wheel berrings. that was my problem. remove teh axle nut and put the car up with the wheel on. check for play in the berring.

 

Re: how to check tie rod ends for play -

Jack up the front end up the car. Go to each side, grab the wheel and try to move it as if the car was turning right/life. If you can watch the steering knuckle and it moves before the actual tie rod moves, then you know there is play in the ball joint and the tie rod end needs to be replaced.

You can check for wheel bearing play by grabbing the top and bottom of the wheel and checking for any movement when you jiggle. If you feel any play, you have a problem and it's probably the wheel bearing. Normally wheel bearings will make whining noises if they are bad.

Your problem sounds like badly worn tie rod end(s).

Justin

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by madslackin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You can check for wheel bearing play by grabbing the top and bottom of the wheel and checking for any movement when you jiggle. If you feel any play, you have a problem and it's probably the wheel bearing. Normally wheel bearings will make whining noises if they are bad.</TD></TR></TABLE>

my wheel berring was done and it didnt make any abnormal noises.
also, you can have a bad berring that doesnt show any deflection with the hub nut on. to realy check it you need to remove the 32mm axle/hub nut and then check for berring deflection

 

Would a bad wheel bearing cause abnormal braking (shuttering, etc.)
Its just so annoying driving down the road and having to constantly correct the wheel.

 

its possible. that could be the tie rod or actual brake shudder. why dont you check the tie-rods and wheel berrings

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lo-Buck EF &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">its possible. that could be the tie rod or actual brake shudder. why dont you check the tie-rods and wheel berrings</TD></TR></TABLE>

Replaced outer tie-rod ends last week. THey were bad, but still alot of play
I will check wheel bearings tonight. I sure hope its them

 

did you check the inners while u had it all appart?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lo-Buck EF &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">did you check the inners while u had it all appart?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, they were fine. THe outers were extremely loose though (oil leaking, alot of play)

 

keep us posted on how this turns out.

 

Anyone know if or where I can buy tie rod ends (outer) besides the dealership? Are they a dealer only part? I called autozone and they said they couldn't get that part...

Am I going to have to open the wallet at Honda?

 

ya your right is either balljoints, tierods or your rack my need a lash adjustment ( if possible). if theres no room for adjustment then i could need a new rack. cant be to sure of anything though without doing any diagnostic work. so check the tierods by holding each of them while you have somone oscillate the steering wheel quickly with the tires loaded. for the balljoints raise the car up a little bit so the tires are just off the ground. use a big pry bar and pry up on the tire and look for any visual movement. any visual movement is too much so replace them if thats the case. for the lash adjustment you can probably find that in like a chiltons or hayns manual. so good luck!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by awdriscol4 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Anyone know if or where I can buy tie rod ends (outer) besides the dealership? Are they a dealer only part? I called autozone and they said they couldn't get that part...

Am I going to have to open the wallet at Honda?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Go to NAPA, about $29 per side.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mikeformos03dx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ya your right is either balljoints, tierods or your rack my need a lash adjustment ( if possible). if theres no room for adjustment then i could need a new rack. cant be to sure of anything though without doing any diagnostic work. so check the tierods by holding each of them while you have somone oscillate the steering wheel quickly with the tires loaded. for the balljoints raise the car up a little bit so the tires are just off the ground. use a big pry bar and pry up on the tire and look for any visual movement. any visual movement is too much so replace them if thats the case. for the lash adjustment you can probably find that in like a chiltons or hayns manual. so good luck!!! </TD></TR></TABLE>

I checked the ball-joints and bushings. Still no luck. I drove this beater for 2 hours yesterday, trying to see what it was. I did notice once i got on the freeway (around 80mph) i started to lose alot of control on the steering. I just got an alignment, and fixed the tie-rod ends., so i know thats ok. But, just like the other guy, i have about 1" of dead steering space, which is very anonying.

I am leading to the rack&pinion or steering gear. Hopefully this will be the one to break the camels back.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by awdriscol4 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Anyone know if or where I can buy tie rod ends (outer) besides the dealership? Are they a dealer only part? I called autozone and they said they couldn't get that part...

Am I going to have to open the wallet at Honda?
</TD></TR></TABLE>
i have bought many outer *and* inner tie rod ends from autozone. they may not have them in stock, but they can get them. try pepboys or a local parts house if you dont want to use oem honda.

as for everyone elses problems, its either the rack or a wheel berring. no one has said they have checked either....

 

i was having this problem bad and it ended up being the whole rack and pinion was just plane wore out so i replaced it with a new one which i must say made the hugest difference in tightness. ill tell ya what i replaced all the stuff u guys are talking about and was about to just sell my "unsafe car" then in a last effort attempt i replaced r&p and schualla now im hella tight yo good luck

 

Ended up being the U-joints that connect the steering shaft to the steering gear.
Went to NAPA, $32 for both u-joints.
Tight as heck now! FINALLY!!!! @&*$&@%#@

 

can you post a pic of the U-joints ? I think i have the same problem with my steering rack.