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Hi,
This will be long but I'm trying to give all the information I've collected. I've dug through the archive quite a bit and have tried to check everything.
Driving symptoms: I get an occasional clunk when turning that sounds like it's coming from the front passenger side. It doesn't seem to be connected to the actual turning motion, it seems to be more related to the shifting of forces or weight. In other words, it happens when the steering wheel position is steady but I'm still going through the turn.
Car history: I've had it about a year and 15,000 miles. It has about 150,000 total miles. Shortly after purchase, I replaced the ball joints, outer tie rod ends, rear control arm bushings (but not the front), struts, strut bearings, and the sway bar links and bushings. The outer tie rod ends seemed to be ok as did the the front control arm bushings so I didn't change them because of the pain involved. All parts were from FCP Groton and I avoided Scantech wherever possible.
Inspection: The problem appears to be play in the rack. I jacked up the passenger wheel and pulled back the boot over the inner tie rod. With the steering wheel locked, if I tap on the wheel at about the 3:00 position I hear a definite clunk. It appears to be happening in the rack rather than at the inner tie rod end. The shaft of the rack appears appears to move vertically when I do this. I don't have a corresponding problem at the other side. If I release the steering wheel lock, the clunk cuts down quite a bit, I think because there is a little give from the other side. I can't detect any movement in the other parts and the rear control arm bushings are tight. I also jacked up both sides and did the 9-3:00 turn and didn't see any signs of movement.
I guess my main question is whether this type of play in the rack is normal or whether it indicates a problem with the rack or have I missed something somewhere? Any other insights would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Lyle
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