Rack and Pinion question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 357
Likes: 15
From: Marshville, NC
Rack and Pinion question
I have a 87 coupe, when the car is in park and turn the wheel in either direction there is a popping sound from the front end. I checked the power steering fluid and it is full (changed out all the fluids when I got the car). The sound was there before I changed out the fluid. Is this a rack and pinion going bad? Standing at the engine bay when the wife turns the wheel the sound seems to be at both front wheels. You can feel the pop on the wheel when it sounds off.It does not leak and steers normal going down the road. Never had a car with a rack and pinion that's why I ask.
Thanks
Thanks
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 357
Likes: 15
From: Marshville, NC
Thanks for the suggestion, am I to take the cap off the power steering fluid for the air to escape or am way off base here?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 357
Likes: 15
From: Marshville, NC
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 76
From: Santa Maria, CA
No. I just had mine rebuilt and it never leaked a drop. I would do as suggested and check tie rods, ball joints and bushings. Also check the intermediate shaft that connects the steering column to the rack for play.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
One thing you can do with the cap off is to look for air bubbles (not good) in the fluid while the engine is running. Usually that causes a moaning noise.
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
I have a 87 coupe, when the car is in park and turn the wheel in either direction there is a popping sound from the front end. I checked the power steering fluid and it is full (changed out all the fluids when I got the car). The sound was there before I changed out the fluid. Is this a rack and pinion going bad? Standing at the engine bay when the wife turns the wheel the sound seems to be at both front wheels. You can feel the pop on the wheel when it sounds off.It does not leak and steers normal going down the road. Never had a car with a rack and pinion that's why I ask.
Thanks
Thanks
put one end up against your ear and the other end to search around for the noise. Also check the intermediate shaft between the steering rack and the steering column, it can wear allowing some twisting movement and noises. Otherwise most common things to check is noise from the ball joints or rack at the input shaft.
Good Luck
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
ball joint is super loose or a bushing is out from a control arm. Either is not good and can be the source of cascading problems. if one suspension part wears out it tends to cause adjoining parts to become stressed and fail.
The hyd system has nothing to do with this.
Look at the sway bar link bushings as well.
get the hood UP, have someone work the steer wheel back and forth to create the POP while YOU get your face down there and LOOK & LISTEN. When you think you have found which wheel, and maybe which part, jack it up and grab the wheel and jerk it around. Loose parts will reveal themselves with no load on the tire. IF you feel that wheel move or loose in any way, something is wrong and needs immediate attention. Loose suspension causes accidents.
The hyd system has nothing to do with this.
Look at the sway bar link bushings as well.
get the hood UP, have someone work the steer wheel back and forth to create the POP while YOU get your face down there and LOOK & LISTEN. When you think you have found which wheel, and maybe which part, jack it up and grab the wheel and jerk it around. Loose parts will reveal themselves with no load on the tire. IF you feel that wheel move or loose in any way, something is wrong and needs immediate attention. Loose suspension causes accidents.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 357
Likes: 15
From: Marshville, NC
ball joint is super loose or a bushing is out from a control arm. Either is not good and can be the source of cascading problems. if one suspension part wears out it tends to cause adjoining parts to become stressed and fail.
The hyd system has nothing to do with this.
Look at the sway bar link bushings as well.
get the hood UP, have someone work the steer wheel back and forth to create the POP while YOU get your face down there and LOOK & LISTEN. When you think you have found which wheel, and maybe which part, jack it up and grab the wheel and jerk it around. Loose parts will reveal themselves with no load on the tire. IF you feel that wheel move or loose in any way, something is wrong and needs immediate attention. Loose suspension causes accidents.
The hyd system has nothing to do with this.
Look at the sway bar link bushings as well.
get the hood UP, have someone work the steer wheel back and forth to create the POP while YOU get your face down there and LOOK & LISTEN. When you think you have found which wheel, and maybe which part, jack it up and grab the wheel and jerk it around. Loose parts will reveal themselves with no load on the tire. IF you feel that wheel move or loose in any way, something is wrong and needs immediate attention. Loose suspension causes accidents.
Thanks