steering rack wobble

2

2000sport

Dedicated LVC Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Messages
808
Reaction score
1
Location
Berea, OH
Not too long ago there were 3 different threads going about steering wander/steering wheel oscillations at speed.

I have narrowed my problem down to a bad steering rack bushing on the pass side.

the part was about 15 bucks from the stealership, as there are 2 available (a 105mm peice and a 60mm peice).

I will also be doing both sway bar end links.

Hopefully this fixes the problem.
 
Did the sway bar end links. and LH outside tie rod end. But those damn steering rack mount bushings are press-in. I was not able to remove them without removing the steering rack.
 
i have the same problem... can you take pictures of what is wrong or the new parts or anything that will point e in the right direction to fixing it?
 
the rack needs to be pulled off the car (tie rods, p/s lines, intermediate shaft, and mount bolts)

you will need a shop press to get the old bushings out and the new bushings in.

the bushings are about 15$ each.

I will try and get a couple pictures tomorrow
 
How did you narrow it down to the rack bushings? I have been dealing with highway speed vibration that seems to come from the driver's side corner of the car for about a year now. Also over uneven roads I almost feel as if I am hydroplaing or driving on ice for a couple seconds. If I hit a bump with my drivers side wheel it is much harsher that if I hit one with my passenger side wheel.
It's not the shocks, springs, tires, wheels or outer tie-rods thats all I know for sure. But the driver's side almost feels loose if I have the wheel turned to the right and pull into a driveway or something. I was thinking:

inner tie-rod?
ball joint?
perhaps sway bar bushings or end links to help the car maintain its composure over uneven roads at 50+ mph
 
after replacing nearly every suspension component except the shocks, I still had the vibration/oscillation in the steering wheel and could feel knocking by the pedal assembly. with the vehicle running and in park, if you quickly steer left to right (back and forth several times) I heard/felt that same knock. checked everything I could think of, and couldnt find the cause.

Finally got under the car while a friend turned the wheel back and forth. saw a considerable (in my own opinion) amount of play on the pass side rack mount. this play was enough to allow the slip angle to vary 3-4 degrees depending on the severity of the bump or chuckhole.

i compared this bushing play with the play on the drivers side and noticed quite a difference. Under load, the rack would move about 2 cm off center, while the drivers side had maybe 3-4mm of play (which seems normal).
 
I will get some photos of the new bushing as soon as I have time, and will call a few shops to get pricing for the work, since I do not have a press.
 
I finally ended up taking it to a shop and they pressed in the new bushing. It's cleaned up some of the drift, but not the shaking and clunk in the steering.

I'm going to replace the lower half of the steering shaft next, considering the only thing left is the lower u-joint or the steering rack itself.

Im working with Ford's consumer services to try and have the dealer that replaced the engine fix this. When they did the motor they forgot the bolt that locks the 2 halves of the steering shaft together and I'm trying to prove that the giant deadzone caused undue stress to the lower u-joint.

We'll see what happens with that.
 
Yes.

Both front upper arms were replaced over the summer, and both lower joints were done in the spring.

I'm starting to think this may be more of a rack issue though. everytime I feel the knock it feels more like its coming from the rack.

If it is the rack, ford wants 208 for a new steering rack... So I might have to end up doing that if the steering shaft idea fails.

the wander that I had before is nearly gone after having the bushings thrown on and raising the tire pressure on the conti's.

The Continental ExtremContact DWS tires are known to have a weak sidewall, but 45 psi all around has fixed the sidewall flex.

The main issue I have left is the oscillation/shake of the steering wheel.

I know it is not wheel balancing issue, as the tires were roadforce balanced about 2 months ago, and are not missing any of the wheel weights.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 557 (members: 0, guests: 557)
Back
Top