here is what happens, if you have the car parked (90 crx si) and have it in neutral and just turn the steering wheel left and right back and forth, it makes noises like clunky/clicky sort of noises (hard to describe), and i did look under while someone turned the wheel and i can see that it looks like the steering gear/tie rod bar thing (the thing with 2 rubber boots on it) and it seems that is what is making the noise, anyone tell me what you think it might be most likely? car has around 178,000 miles on it, never had tie rods/ balljoints replaced before.

there are these black bushings that are torn and they are near the steering knuckles or somewhere in that area also.

any ideas would be helpfull and would appreciate it

 

haha yeah if the boots are torn change them. That is bad to drive with those like that. errr... I'm such a hypocrit right now. I need to do mine also. You have the ball joints on the front. One on upper control arm, lca arm/knuckle assembly, and the tie rod.

-Shane

 

replacing the steering rack end bushing and retightening the gearbox got rid of pretty much all my steering wheel play/clunk.

if the "accordian" tie rod boots are torn, then for sure that bushing is in need of replacement. but its pretty much expected its bad and in need of replacement after 15+ years of use.

you should also replace all the balljoint boots if they are torn.

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1117870

 

i have done my own suspension install, brakes etc... but for some reason i get overwhelmed when looking at the diagrams of all this crap, like i pretty much have a feeling i need tie rods, balljoints, etc.... but i don't know if i want to go about doing this myself, i might have to take it to a shop and fork over the credit card and just get it over with.

only thing i want to know is which parts are the culprits that absolutely need replacing, cause if i knew which then at least a shop would'nt charge me for doing just everything when all it needed was one thing, but on the other hand everything is 15 yrs old so maybe just get it all done and get it done the right way.

but also my mom is going out of town for a whole week next monday and said i could use her accord the whole weeek, so that is a whole week i can have to work on my car if i do decide to do this, but this looks like the type of thing i would need really detailed instructions with pictures.

anyone else have any more direction on what parts are probably bad? just need direction, thanks

 

I would imagine for what a shop might charge to replace one part;
You could probably replace the entire rack:
>click here<

 

steering rack for manual steering hondas is 441$. Cant find any manual steering rack at any parts store. Honda only. I learned the hard way. The front end is easy. Plus you'll have some satisfaction of getting it done yourself. Go here and look at the manual. Its easy, I promise..................................http://tech.hybridgarage.com

 

ok thanks for the replies, i will go check the links out, i know i can't have you guys know what it is exactly, but i just thought describing the symptoms about it making noise when you turn the wheel while the car was maybe something that was a symptom of a known part going out, but i will just look into it more, but if anyone has any ideas of what part might be bad then i would appreciate it.

 

You know i clicked on this thread just to see if tyson posted his famous rackend bushing fix, If not i was going to post it for him.
Anyway why would you buy a new rack when you can get a junkyard one? I could buy a CRX shell for 441$ and just take the rack out.

 

just realised i did'nt describe the real problem, i know i mentioned it makes noises while turning the steering wheel back & forth while parked but that is'nt a problem when driving straight with the stock wheels, it does'nt make noises and drives good, but the problem actually is when i switch the wheels to integra wheels (93 GSR 14"), basically the problem is when i put the integra wheels on the front and drive it, at like 20 mph its making a noise while going straight, the noise is around the outer tierod area, it does'nt make sense why with those wheels it makes noises while driving??? and the other it does'nt? both 14"??? when i put up on jackstands and turn the wheels they turn freely and have no problems, and are tight up to the hub and secure, so does'nt make sense, all i can think of is a balance is needed on those wheels?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ohjolt2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You know i clicked on this thread just to see if tyson posted his famous rackend bushing fix, If not i was going to post it for him.
Anyway why would you buy a new rack when you can get a junkyard one? I could buy a CRX shell for 441$ and just take the rack out.</TD></TR></TABLE>

you get what u pay for. its a mental thing i guess. your right, its outragously priced.

 

try grabbing the tie rod and see if there is any play (facing the knuckle gently move the tie rod back and forth, without moving the steering rack). if there is play you'll probably need new inner and outer tie rods, rack end bushing, and since you said the boots are torn, those too.

why buy a honda rack when you can get a quaife one for half the price?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1gEF-8 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">try grabbing the tie rod and see if there is any play (facing the knuckle gently move the tie rod back and forth, without moving the steering rack). if there is play you'll probably need new inner and outer tie rods, rack end bushing, and since you said the boots are torn, those too.

why buy a honda rack when you can get a quaife one for half the price? </TD></TR></TABLE>

quaife, man they look pretty good, just looked at their site, never heard of them till you just mentioned it. get a quaife, wish i knew that back in 01,

 

actually, if you buy the quaife steering rack and pinion, you will need to buy a DX steering rack to put it in. its not compatible with the Si steering rack. its made to fit in the DX rack.

quaife doesnt tell you this, because they didnt know this, and when they were told the difference, didnt care.

you dont have to pay $441 for a new rack anyway, just spend $10 for a new rack end bushing.

 

had to changed the whole damn thing. The teeth were all worn down

 

what do you mean worn down?

the Si rack is variable ratio, meaning there will be a non uniform teeth shape across the rack.

did you measure it?