Rough/notchy steering feel in one direction
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From: Palmtucky CA
Rough/notchy steering feel in one direction
To start I have a 97 Del Sol S without PS. I have been noticing a strange feeling when I turn left. Just as I go over center from driving straight to turning left it feels like the steering wheel gets stuck and with a little more pressure will turn fine.
I lifted the front and turn the wheels back and forth from the tire and can feel what seems like notching when the steering wheel gets straight up. I checked the u joint at the column but it is fine. Is there something I can do to service the manual steering rack? Or maybe something else to check?
I lifted the front and turn the wheels back and forth from the tire and can feel what seems like notching when the steering wheel gets straight up. I checked the u joint at the column but it is fine. Is there something I can do to service the manual steering rack? Or maybe something else to check?
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Kansas
Re: Rough/notchy steering feel in one direction
A siezed steering shaft joint will propagate the sticking action at around every half revolution of the wheel, in any direction. This is not likely your cause.
When did the problem start, and what was the last relevant service performed on the car? Any collision damage?
A basic wheel end parts check can be done with the tires off the ground. Remove the tie rod ends from the steering knuckle and attempt to swing each tire left and right, feeling for signs of binding. If you have binding at any point on a wheel, your ball joints are the cause of the problem, replace the offending side at the least and recheck.
If both wheels pivot freely without tie rods, you will need to unbolt the steering shaft from the steering rack and attempt to cycle the rack by hand, feeling for binding. If you have binding here, replace the rack, or adjust the preload. If there is no binding, replace the steering shaft and inspect the steering wheel for binding (not likely, but possible). Be careful not to over rotate the steering wheel when the shaft is not connected, as you may damage the clock spring assembly.
Every steering rack has a "king tooth". This tooth is designed to remove as much slack from the steering rack as possible while driving straight ahead. This prevents the steering wheel from "wandering" while driving straight ahead. It is possible that contamination has found its way into the rack, causing your symptoms. This is a common problem on many GM style electric steering racks, which are manual racks with a steering motor on the shaft. The Malibu has a bad problem with rack contamination.
One last thing, is this a power steering rack delete?, or is it a TRUE non power steering rack?
When did the problem start, and what was the last relevant service performed on the car? Any collision damage?
A basic wheel end parts check can be done with the tires off the ground. Remove the tie rod ends from the steering knuckle and attempt to swing each tire left and right, feeling for signs of binding. If you have binding at any point on a wheel, your ball joints are the cause of the problem, replace the offending side at the least and recheck.
If both wheels pivot freely without tie rods, you will need to unbolt the steering shaft from the steering rack and attempt to cycle the rack by hand, feeling for binding. If you have binding here, replace the rack, or adjust the preload. If there is no binding, replace the steering shaft and inspect the steering wheel for binding (not likely, but possible). Be careful not to over rotate the steering wheel when the shaft is not connected, as you may damage the clock spring assembly.
Every steering rack has a "king tooth". This tooth is designed to remove as much slack from the steering rack as possible while driving straight ahead. This prevents the steering wheel from "wandering" while driving straight ahead. It is possible that contamination has found its way into the rack, causing your symptoms. This is a common problem on many GM style electric steering racks, which are manual racks with a steering motor on the shaft. The Malibu has a bad problem with rack contamination.
One last thing, is this a power steering rack delete?, or is it a TRUE non power steering rack?
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