i removed my powersteering 2+ years ago by way of looping the lines. now all the sudden a few months ago i got this play in my steering wheel that makes it feel kinda unsafe to drive it happens at all points of turning, if i make a direction change it has about 2 inches of play before the wheels start turning the other way. i have looked down at the rack where the steering shaft and rack meet while a friend turns jiggles the wheel back and forth and i can clearly see the shaft turning so that would seem to eliminate everything except the rack and the tie rod ends.

so my question is, how can i tell if it is the rack or the tie rod ends. i know my inner TRE boots have huge tears in both sides which has prolly caused dirt and water to get up in there so im hoping its just the ends and not the rack.

im hoping to figure this situation out before i remove all the abs parts with non-abs parts so i can do it all in one shot. and since ill be all up in there im prolly going to remove the racks inner seals to make things a tad easier whether i have to buy a new reman rack or not

any help is appreciated

 

jack up one front wheel off the ground. Once off the ground, grab the wheel with your hands and try to twist the wheel side to side. If there's play in side to side motion, change your TRE's.

I would also double check the looped lines on the rack for leaks. Or maybe even change out the fluids.

good luck.. keep us posted.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dangger &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">jack up one front wheel off the ground. Once off the ground, grab the wheel with your hands and try to twist the wheel side to side. If there's play in side to side motion, change your TRE's.

I would also double check the looped lines on the rack for leaks. Or maybe even change out the fluids.

good luck.. keep us posted.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes i usually check it for side to side and up and down play. I use a pry bar under the tire for up and down and then by hand. Normally its pretty obvious when their bad.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dangger &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">jack up one front wheel off the ground. Once off the ground, grab the wheel with your hands and try to twist the wheel side to side. If there's play in side to side motion, change your TRE's.

I would also double check the looped lines on the rack for leaks. Or maybe even change out the fluids.

good luck.. keep us posted.</TD></TR></TABLE>

if it does move side to side wouldnt this mean that my wheels would do funny things while driving?

 

make sure you have fluid in there.

 

There's not too many parts to the steering system so you should be able to narrow it down pretty easy. Tie rod ends, rack tension adjustment (big bolt on the back of the rack), steering linkage U-joint, and also check the inner tie rods (ball joints).

 

youve worn out the gear thats turns the inner tie rods, rebuild it or buy a new rack and reistall ur p/s or get a manuel rack.