Suspect steering box problem

[OZ9HZ]

Good day all,

I have a definite issue with wheel wobble that I think is related to the steering gear... let me describe...

When coming to a stop I start to get a wheel wobble when I apply brakes, but only at pretty low speeds (say below 10kph or so). The wobble has become worse recently. 

I thought is was wheel bearings, so I replaced those. It didn't help. I then replaced the disk rotors, but this didn't actually help much at all.

Then I eventually replaced the whole front steering system (not the steering rack),but changed shocks, springs, push rods, tie rod ends, the whole catastrophe   This tightened the steering up a lot and the car went well for a few months, but the wobble has returned and is getting worse.

When I jack the car up and try to wobble the left wheel there is no play. On the right side there is no play if I wobble the wheel with my hands at 12 and 6 o'clock but there is play when I wobble the wheel with my hands at 3 and 9 o'clock. This tells me that there is play in some steering component somewhere... but why only on the right hand side?

I can't easily see where the play is coming from because, with the wheel on I can't really look, and with the wheel off I don't have enough leverage to wobble the disk enough. The only assistant I have is my 6 year-old daughter, so I can't ask her to wobble it, or tell me what is wobbling. 

However, today I noticed that if I use a tyre iron to give me leverage, it looks like the steering gear is moving! I can't really see what's moving, and why it's only moving on the one side... Is it possible that one of the bolts that holds the rack has come loose, thereby causing movement? Could there be something broken inside the rack? 

So here's the question: Could the judder be caused by a damaged steering rack, and if so, how much of a job is it to replace the steering rack? I've read through the Haynes manual, but it's not really clear. I've searched You Tube, but there's not much there either.

[jimbo]

Is the steering rack firmly attached ?

[mission]

When I jack the car up and try to wobble the left wheel there is no play. On the right side there is no play if I wobble the wheel with my hands at 12 and 6 o'clock but there is play when I wobble the wheel with my hands at 3 and 9 o'clock. This tells me that there is play in some steering component somewhere... but why only on the right hand side?

According to your profile you live in Denmark. So like me your driving on the right side of the road.

That could be a reason for only the right hand side being worn. Driving right means that side is getting more bumps, offroading and parking damage (like driving into a curbstone etc).

[OZ9HZ]

Is the steering rack firmly attached ?

Well, it certainly seems to be, however, when I lever the right wheel with a tyre iron, I can see definite upwards movement at the inner tie rod end where it connects to the steering rack... I assume that it shouldn't move at all?

Marc

[Sol]

There are inner balljoints on the rack ends, this could be what's worn out. The inner part screws into the rack itself so it isn't possible to see it but the ball joint is outside the screw in part and covered by a gaiter.

See the attached pic, the right end is the part that your outer track rod end screws onto and the left end (thicker part) is the end which screws into the rack and has the inner ball joint in it.

Changing that is not too hard but you have to get a grip of the rack firmly to undo the screw end and don't go mad when tightening up or you can damage the rack. Just nip it up and a bit more of a turn to lock it in. Pack grease round the inner ball joint and fit the rubber gaiter. You'll need the steering alignment checked and adjusted after refitting the outer track rod end.

[oilyrag]

Zion sounds right to me - to check undo the nut and 'break' the outer track rod end taper. With the outer end free you should get some resistance when moving the rod around - if it flops about then the inner joint is certainly suspect. If it's worn then replace the outer at the same time as it will cost less than having the tracking done twice!

[jj9]

Yes as Zion has mentioned that certainly sounds like the inner tie rod ball joint is worn.


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[OZ9HZ]

Zion sounds right to me - to check undo the nut and 'break' the outer track rod end taper. With the outer end free you should get some resistance when moving the rod around - if it flops about then the inner joint is certainly suspect. If it's worn then replace the outer at the same time as it will cost less than having the tracking done twice!

The inner tie rod ends were replaced recently, so I know they're not the problem.

I have removed the tie rods and removed the two bolts that hold the steering rack...

Now I'm trying to figure out how to remove the hydraulic pipes from the rack so that I can pull it out...

Any ideas? The pipes run into the rack and it looks like there is a retaining plate held in place by a T30 nut... which is stripped so it'll be a real b%&ch to remove. Any ideas?

Marc