I'm still dealing with a knock noise when turning to the right and a shaking steering wheel when I'm braking at fast speeds. The knocking noise also occurs when I just tap the brakes down the slowly decelerating. I read a article saying and quote...


"Most steering problems like wobbling, play in the wheel, and wandering, aren’t caused by a bad steering rack unless they’re accompanied by significant leakage"

I'm really sick of this problem and ski season is here, I need to get this fixed. Anyone have any suggestions for what to look for?

 

that quote seems like its talking about a power steering rack, do you have power steering?


if not, and its manual, then it sounds like a rack end bushing to me. and dont forget to tighten the gearbox before you finish. its not as easy as it is cheap to replace, but its very worth it.

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1117870
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1387079

if you do have power steering, then it could still be, but also check tie rods. just grab a fistful and start yanking. and then grab the wheel while its in the air and shake it. youll find the cause of vibration then.

 

mine would "pop" or "knock" when i would turn or jerk the wheel while the car was still. so i took a peek underneath the car and the boots on the rack were torn and grease everywhere. so i replaced it. word of wisdom while replacing it... a lift is your bestfriend.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Osek206 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


"Most steering problems like wobbling, play in the wheel, and wandering, aren’t caused by a bad steering rack unless they’re accompanied by significant leakage"
</TD></TR></TABLE>

what causes it then? I have had alot of "wobbling, play in the wheel, and wandering" the last week or so almost like the car wants to drive its self. You have to fight the wheel when the road gets a little bumpy.

No Noise though..

 

do you feel any clunks when turning the wheel in a parking lot? another sure sign of steering play.

 

Me too, but I have replaced the rack bushing and inner ball joints...havent tried adjusting the rack itself or anything else but my car is super fucked when you drive it..

 

did you check if theres play in any and all of the suspension components?

hows your alignment?

 

When looked under the hood I found one problem. A friend turned the wheel and the inner tie rod is making the popping clunking noise. The skinny rod is making the noise im hearing. A friend said replace the whole rack? I was looking at prices of racks and they definately dont look cheap. Any faq's out there on just replacing one inner rack end?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">do you feel any clunks when turning the wheel in a parking lot? another sure sign of steering play.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you were talking to me, no clunks. No nosies or anything either. Just that it feels like it wants to drive its self. Im pretty sure alignment is ok, but still going to get that checked.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Osek206 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When looked under the hood I found one problem. A friend turned the wheel and the inner tie rod is making the popping clunking noise. The skinny rod is making the noise im hearing. A friend said replace the whole rack? I was looking at prices of racks and they definately dont look cheap. Any faq's out there on just replacing one inner rack end?</TD></TR></TABLE>

after i did my inner and outters and aligned it. i went out the next day and drove the car for 3 hours straight to a 1/4 track h-t meet. i launched 1st good, 2nd time i launch my alignment was fuckd up. then i took it back to the shop to see whats wrong and my alignment was perfect still but when driving or weight or force is put on the steering componenets it throws off alignment but turns out now my rack and pinion are done and clicking when turning and when on a lift turning the steering wheel the rack makes sounds and the right innner tie rod is loose as hell. SO i broke something. i change the rack and problem fixed.

 

How difficult is it to change the rack completely? And on top of that how costly is it? DIY or shop? I live in a apt. so finding a flat place to change everything can be difficult. I've changed a radiator for the first time and it was pretty smooth, so how is the learning curve on the rack?

 

changing the manual rack is pretty easy.

you havent said if you have power steering or not however.

hardest part is popping balljoints on the tie rod. i suppose you dont have to do that either and just unscrew the inner tie rod and leave the outer in place.

the more annoying part is getting at the ujoint bolt at the base of the steering column. not hard, just annoying.

if you need to replace the inner tie rod, just replace the inner tie rod.

the cost of a new rack depends if the new rack youre getting is coming with or without the inner and outer tie rods.

 

I have a 91 civic sedan, I think its manual steering but I'm not really sure are there any specific signs to look for? I really dont want to deal with taking off ball-joints, so I'd most likely take the other route.

 

^bumpdizzle