Wow.. Nice rack
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
Wow.. Nice rack
So my 95 vette has a click in the steering when it moves off center... The vette specialist said the steering rack needs to be replaced. I was just wondering if there was a way to fix this without having to replace the whole thing.. It feels as if something on the steering rack is just loose.. But I know next to nothing about car repair... Just wondering if anyone had this problem before.. The car has 77k miles on it.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Fire it up and look/listen for yourself while a friend turns the wheel.
Try to locate where the sound is originating - if it's between close locations get a "mechanics stethoscope" - a metal rod attached with small hoses to headphones - it will help you locate noises.
Are you losing PS fluid? Any strangeness in steering when slow, or fast.
Check tire pressure, and anything else that's part of the tires, wheels, or suspension, tire wobble (bearing issued).
Everyone else just jump in here, please.
Try to locate where the sound is originating - if it's between close locations get a "mechanics stethoscope" - a metal rod attached with small hoses to headphones - it will help you locate noises.
Are you losing PS fluid? Any strangeness in steering when slow, or fast.
Check tire pressure, and anything else that's part of the tires, wheels, or suspension, tire wobble (bearing issued).
Everyone else just jump in here, please.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
I kept moving the steering wheel while the mechanic checked around the tires and determined that the sound was coming from the steering rack... I cant look any deeper into the problem untill tonight when I get my car back (its getting a new water pump and opti). It doesnt sound like a common problem eh?
The steering, other than that clicking that you can definitly feel in the steering wheel itsself, is perfect. It seemed to get a little worse after I was moving it back and forth for the mechanic for a minute... So Im guessing if I dont take care of the problem soon it will become a bigger problem..
The steering, other than that clicking that you can definitly feel in the steering wheel itsself, is perfect. It seemed to get a little worse after I was moving it back and forth for the mechanic for a minute... So Im guessing if I dont take care of the problem soon it will become a bigger problem..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
I have exact same thing on my '94. A very faint single "click" when moving steering wheel off center, and it can be felt on the steering wheel. It doesn't do it all the time, but is frequent enough. I am not going to worry about it unless it gets worse. To me, it's just a small annoyance.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
I kept moving the steering wheel while the mechanic checked around the tires and determined that the sound was coming from the steering rack... I cant look any deeper into the problem untill tonight when I get my car back (its getting a new water pump and opti). It doesnt sound like a common problem eh?
The steering, other than that clicking that you can definitly feel in the steering wheel itsself, is perfect. It seemed to get a little worse after I was moving it back and forth for the mechanic for a minute... So Im guessing if I dont take care of the problem soon it will become a bigger problem..
The steering, other than that clicking that you can definitly feel in the steering wheel itsself, is perfect. It seemed to get a little worse after I was moving it back and forth for the mechanic for a minute... So Im guessing if I dont take care of the problem soon it will become a bigger problem..
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
When I first got my 89 I noticed a slight but persistent leak in the steering rack area. Apparently the early racks had problems with some seals so when the dealer wanted to replace the rack and pump I agreed to it - $1,500 in all. Still leaked. I took it to a local mechanic who was recommended but I hadn't used before. He first wiped clean all the parts to see where the leak showed up. He noticed a PS hose seemed to be moving too much. He tightened the clamp. No more leaks. He now gets all my work.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
I would have wiped everything dry, and put a clean mat under the car where it's parked. Keep checking for new liquids. Usually leaks are silent so it may well be something else entirely. If you use a mechanics stethoscope you can find exactly where the clicking originates.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
Be aware - my car (60k miles) had the exact same click. I just replaced the PS pump and rack. Still the same click. Sounds like it comes from the rack, but I now think it is the steering shaft joint at the rack.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Carlsbad CA
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 51
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From: Carlsbad CA
I read on a different forum that someone fixed the problem by replacing the rag joint... seems complicated to do so since I know nothing about fixing cars.. Is there anyone in the southern california area who knows how to do it? Ill pay someone to avoid paying a specialist a grand to fix! Haha
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,838
Likes: 341
From: Database Error Indiana
Listen to find out if its coming from one side. Omn mine it was the left inner tie rod. The book made it seem real complicated needing special tools. I did it in an hour with tools I had in the box cost about $50.. They say the passenger side is harder to get to.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 14,146
Likes: 936
From: Fremont Ca
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I dont think Id look at the rack,while the early cars had racks that were garbage and all were replaced at some point G.M. fixed this around 88-89?It could be in the column.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
good suggestions above, sounds can be transmitted from somewhere else (shaft, tie rod ends etc.) that may "seem" like the rack. Try and get someone to turn on the wheel while you start listening. The above price for NOS is great, or you can take it out and bring to a steering specialty place have them check it out or re-build. In any event, if you can do this yourself you will save yourself some money and IMO it isn't that hard of a job.
I can't imagine what a shop will hit for labor on r&r a rack etc..
I can't imagine what a shop will hit for labor on r&r a rack etc..
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 6
From: St Marys GA
Is it just when moving off-center? Or is it whenever moving the steering wheel from a stationary position to either direction. (i.e., when the steering wheel is at 90* to the left and you turn left/right, does it make the same click as when moving off-center?) Mine has this problem, and the research I've done, including taking it to a shop, says it's the bearings in the intermediate steering shaft. This goes for $115 shipped from a guy in Charlotte on eBay, and from what I've read, is do-able for a DIY job.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
Is it just when moving off-center? Or is it whenever moving the steering wheel from a stationary position to either direction. (i.e., when the steering wheel is at 90* to the left and you turn left/right, does it make the same click as when moving off-center?) Mine has this problem, and the research I've done, including taking it to a shop, says it's the bearings in the intermediate steering shaft. This goes for $115 shipped from a guy in Charlotte on eBay, and from what I've read, is do-able for a DIY job.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 0
From: Texas
This is a common problem and is probably not in the column. It's almost certainly the rag joint. My car and several others I drove before I bought mine had exactly this symptom. I had seen the tsb on the column and thought I was going to have to tear my column apart to fix it. Then I just decided to troubleshoot it myself and it turned out to be the rag.
I tried to replace the one on my '96 with a cheapo universal from the parts store and had to really rig it with separate hardware and some nylon locking nuts to get it to work. Mine is tight now but after tightening the hardware the flexible coupling slowly mushes out of the way and it loosens up again over time requiring retightening. You can take off the plastic cover (assuming its still there) and just grasp the rag joint while a suitable helper (wife) rocks the steering wheel left/right. If both sides of the coupler don't move in perfect unison then your joint has slop in it.
I am currently looking into replacing the rag coupler with a universal joint like the one up near the firewall. mine is old enough to start getting a little slop in it and I'm thinking about replacing both with new U-joints if it'll work.
good luck with it
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I tried to replace the one on my '96 with a cheapo universal from the parts store and had to really rig it with separate hardware and some nylon locking nuts to get it to work. Mine is tight now but after tightening the hardware the flexible coupling slowly mushes out of the way and it loosens up again over time requiring retightening. You can take off the plastic cover (assuming its still there) and just grasp the rag joint while a suitable helper (wife) rocks the steering wheel left/right. If both sides of the coupler don't move in perfect unison then your joint has slop in it.
I am currently looking into replacing the rag coupler with a universal joint like the one up near the firewall. mine is old enough to start getting a little slop in it and I'm thinking about replacing both with new U-joints if it'll work.
good luck with it
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