Car is 95 Civic dx. Tried to film what ive been trying to figure out with my steering. There is play in the steering i would say 1/2-1 inch in both directions that when moving has no input on steering. I tried to show it in the video that there is more vagueness to the left, as in I can turn the wheel to the left sometimes and it takes more input to turn left than it does on the right under the same conditions.

All bushings in front end are polyurethane and were replaced less than a year ago. Inner and outer tie rods are nearly brand new. Alignment was just done last week. So what im trying to figure out is what else can be the culprit? I dont know the inner workings of the rack and pinion too extensively but ive read rack end bushing can maybe cause play..but dont know if this kind of play..dont know if my whole rack is shot and I need to replace it..its a manual rack btw

Im at my wits end and I literally hate driving my car right now because it handles like garbage and I dont know what else to try

 

Anyone? forgot to mention Ive already tightened up the bolt on the rack too no help

 

several thoughts:

1. did you buy the tie rods that you replaced from ebay? they only last a year. you get what you pay for.

2. since you have a manual steering rack, the rack end bushing is absolutely in need of replacement. this is NOT a part available from aftermarket, you have to buy it from the dealer. https://honda-tech.com/honda-crx-ef-...shing-1117870/

3. tightening the pinion PROPERLY is also a must do after replacing the rack end bushing.

4. also check the U joints and pinch bolt on the steering column/pinion. common place for slop.

5. poly bushings? lol.

6. diagnose sources of play by getting underneath the rack and suspension parts and shaking things. you will feel it if its as gross as what your video shows.

 

The inner tie rods were from rockauto they were beck arnley or something similar outers are duralast. I thought maybe the inners were defective but they have literally only been on for a month, the outers are a little older but the ball joints are in good shape.

Why lol to poly bushings?

Im going to look into the rack end bushing more i just havent read anyone having play similar to what im experiencing.