Rack & Pinion clunk
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 7
From: Ft Wayne IN
Rack & Pinion clunk
Guy's, I am getting a clunk noise when the steering wheel gets yank
quick. Does every now and then driving but I can duplicate the noise with the car turned off . I can feel the clunk transfurr through the rack when I put my hand on it. I haven't done the old listening stick to hone in on it
I only have about 3,000 mi. on it from sending to Mich. and getting refurbished 2 yrs. ago?
Whats your first thoughts? Oh **** I guess I should check the tire round ends
They were replaced at the same time
quick. Does every now and then driving but I can duplicate the noise with the car turned off . I can feel the clunk transfurr through the rack when I put my hand on it. I haven't done the old listening stick to hone in on it
I only have about 3,000 mi. on it from sending to Mich. and getting refurbished 2 yrs. ago?
Whats your first thoughts? Oh **** I guess I should check the tire round ends
They were replaced at the same time
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,973
Likes: 341
From: Adelaide South Australia
thats where im at currently, I thought my clunk was in the rack, got someone to turn the wheel while i looked with a torch, but you cant see too well in there (mine is pretty well buried in the engine bay), I could see the shaft from the rack turning without any other movement,
when i took the rack out (and isnt that a joyous job in a rhd car), when i marked the rack shaft and steering shaft I could then see the steering (or intermediate) shaft turning.
the car has had a recent whack into a kerb on the left front.
I put the steering shaft end into the press and now its tight, see the white marks in the photo, maybe you could do that before you take anything out ?
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,973
Likes: 341
From: Adelaide South Australia
the intermediate shaft goes between the firewall and the steering rack,
my problem was where the intermediate shaft actually slides over the shaft that comes out of the rack, there was slack inside and allowed movement, i could only see it by marking the inner and outer shaft and moving it (the white marks in the photo), it appears that the universal joints are ok.
get someone to sit in the car and move the steering wheel left and right (i jacked the car up and took the front wheels off) and watch all along the intermediate shaft, it could be the uni joints, the fibrous joint half way or where the intermediate shaft goes over the steering rack shaft.
my problem was where the intermediate shaft actually slides over the shaft that comes out of the rack, there was slack inside and allowed movement, i could only see it by marking the inner and outer shaft and moving it (the white marks in the photo), it appears that the universal joints are ok.
get someone to sit in the car and move the steering wheel left and right (i jacked the car up and took the front wheels off) and watch all along the intermediate shaft, it could be the uni joints, the fibrous joint half way or where the intermediate shaft goes over the steering rack shaft.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 7
From: Ft Wayne IN
OK this still has me scratching my head. There is play in the steering shaft but the nut is crushed tight? I pulled the shaft and the joints are tight but there is some play in the fiber gasket area. Not sure how much play it should have?
Everything in the rack is tight so it has to be in the shaft? Should the fiber gasket joint be tight? How does one do this? Thanks!
Everything in the rack is tight so it has to be in the shaft? Should the fiber gasket joint be tight? How does one do this? Thanks!
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,973
Likes: 341
From: Adelaide South Australia
it could be the "rag joint" or fibre joint,
best thing is to get someone in the car moving the steering wheel from left to right and watch all the joints in the steering till you can tell where the slack is,
I had to put the end of my steering shaft in the press and give it a squeeze to get rid of the slack, sometimes they can open up on the inside of steering shaft where it goes over the spline coming out of the rack.
best thing is to get someone in the car moving the steering wheel from left to right and watch all the joints in the steering till you can tell where the slack is,
I had to put the end of my steering shaft in the press and give it a squeeze to get rid of the slack, sometimes they can open up on the inside of steering shaft where it goes over the spline coming out of the rack.
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
I had my intermediate shaft exhibit the same clunk noises, when stopped and you turn the wheel with the engine turned off you will notice the steering wheel will not be center and has moved a little.
I got a reconditioned one and noise was gone.
Tie rod ends and ball joints need to be checked as well.
I got a reconditioned one and noise was gone.
Tie rod ends and ball joints need to be checked as well.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 7
From: Ft Wayne IN
Ok, So I replaced the rag joint yesterday do to so movement and checked out all the universal joints and threw it back together. Just got back from a test ride and the steering is tighter but the freekin clunk still there. The tie rods are good so at has to be in my fairly new (4,000) mi. reconditioned rack and pinion, That sucks! I wonder if Turn One will warranty it? It's been a couple years but one would think it should have lasted much longer.
It's been a couple years but one would think it should have lasted much longer.