hello i have a 1988 civic dx hatch and im getting a lot of swaying on hwy i noticed my steering wheel is loose 11 to 1 area.i also get a jerk on the wheel that goes over metal man hole covers and painted roadways like turning signal ect.. i been told its the steering rack and pinion????i took it to scwab they cant find there *** if they wanted too..quoted me for 400 for tie rod ends and bellow boots said nothing about the steering rack tho..then went on to tell me if they do all the work ill still have all that sway and play in my steering wheel..what do you all think it is


thanks!!

 

It could be the outer tie rods, the inner tie rods or the rack itself, or a combination of them.

If you can get the car up on jack stands, wiggle the wheels and look for the play. Wiggle them side to side and look at the outer tie rods. Keep in mind the tires will turn on their own a few degrees until they hit the steering lock, you could have a helper hold the wheel still maybe.

I'm not familiar with how to check the others though.

Les schwab hasn't diagnosed the problem so forget them. If you just want a shop to fix it, try another shop and have them diagnose it before they throw parts at it, heck any DIY'er could throw parts at a problem but for a shop to do that is totally wrong.

 

so i looked and my bellow boots are completely torn both!!! i think its the rack scwab said i needed new tie rod ends and bellow boots but then went on and said he could fix it all but it wouldnt do much lol another schwab shop said it was my rack has some play but didnt bring up the tie rods ahhh i bought a rack and tie rods used of a guy.. ima try and slap it on asap ill go from there i guess....

i appreciate you response...thanks very much

 

tell me how it goes my 91 civic is like that too.. I feel a lot of play on the passenger side when I wiggle the passenger tire from 12 to 6.

 

If its got play at 12 and 6 its your ball joints. definately get that checked out / fixed asap, it can be dangerous.

 

you guys need to rebuild your steering rack end bushing, and tie rods.

 

I replaced both tie rods and put in another rack not new but better condition..still got a lil play feels a lil tighter but still sways a bit..ima get the alignment done right now see after that

 

the key here is the rack end bushing.

look at the faq.

 

so i went to a shop guy looked at it all under the lift.said its the inner tie rod that causing it he couldn't even do the alignment till i get the inner tie rods done...also my link pin bushings??

 

sigh....

 

Go to local parts shop. Order both side rack ends, tie rod ends and lower balljoints and replace all.

I just got the above for $50nzd($44usd) at mates rates so even retail or ask for a discount shouldn't be too bad.

 

Theres only 1 rack end bushing...

 

Listen to Tyson search the FAQ for the rack end bushings.

 

so here it goes i replaced inner tie rods outer tie rods got a used but better condition steering rack and pinion had it aligned and now it feels like a car steering is nice and stiff no more swaying alll over the place, i did it all on DIY videos lol saved my self over a grand

 

did you replace the rack end bushing?

you wasted a bunch of effort if you didnt.

 

im assuming if he didnt list it, he didnt replace it. hey buddy you tried

 

Man Tyson you must be so frustrated wasting your t

 

Tyson you're a saint. I'd be so frustrated.

 

No i didnt havent gotten that far,weres it located sorry new to this