How can you tell if the Rack & Pinion on your car is bad? Or is it alignment?

[Bad Dude]

I have a 1987 Corolla. Very dependable so far. However, I recently had a new CV boot put on the right side b/c it was broke. Eversince, when I go on the freeway, it shakes when going faster than 50mph. If I push the gas pedal down to speed up, it would stop then starts to shake again at 65-70mph. If I let go of the gas pedal to slow down, it would shake until I get below 50mph. Some people told me that it's the alignment. It might be since my front left tire is rather newer than the other 3. The front left tire got stolen, so I replaced it with the exact rim and newer tire. Pressure is good in all 4. What do you guys make of it?
I know if I take it in for an estimate, they will definitely say that it's the rack & pinion. By the way, the last time the mechanic checked, he said that the rack & pinion is leaking fluid but nothing serious. He put in some Jensen brand power steering fluid and it sorta slow the leak. However, the leak is not bad, I have never seen any drop on the ground, though it looks wet.
What do you guys think?
Any good opinion will be greatful.
Thanks.

 

[Spoooon]

A friend of mine had a similar problem. Getting the tires balanced solved it.

 

[Pepsi90919]

the answer to this question is IT'S A 1987 COROLLA.

 

[stickshift]

is this the corolla GT-S?

if so, that car is hot :Q ... i think the '87s were still rwd (aka ae86, hachiroku, trueno, etc...watch initial d )

i've seen a couple around NJ...nice cars...wished I could find one that hasn't been slammed by some redneck kid

 

[Bad Dude]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
the answer to this question is IT'S A 1987 COROLLA.

What does that mean? Anything bad?

It's a front wheel drive, with 4 door, no hatchback. It has carborator.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: Spoooon
A friend of mine had a similar problem. Getting the tires balanced solved it.

I agree. The symptoms sound like wheel balance. Perhaps the shop knocked a wheel weight off in the process, or it came off on its own somehow. Easy fix.. just get the front wheels balanced (and aligned, if it needs it).

 

[Angrymarshmello]

AFAIK, your rack and pinion has NOTHING to do with your car shaking violently at highway speeds. I've had mine replaced twice. My symptoms? My wheel would lock up when trying to turn it. You had to turn it from side to side to "break" it loose. Also, steering became very loose. All in all the steering felt very different.

Just get your tires balanced and get an alignment done.

 

[RU482]

if so, that car is hot ... i think the '87s were still rwd (aka ae86, hachiroku, trueno, etc...watch initial d )

whoa...that confused me a bit

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: redly1

if so, that car is hot ... i think the '87s were still rwd (aka ae86, hachiroku, trueno, etc...watch initial d )

whoa...that confused me a bit

One of the older Corolla models was popularized by the famous anime Initial D. It was RWD.

 

[Bad Dude]

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
AFAIK, your rack and pinion has NOTHING to do with your car shaking violently at highway speeds. I've had mine replaced twice. My symptoms? My wheel would lock up when trying to turn it. You had to turn it from side to side to "break" it loose. Also, steering became very loose. All in all the steering felt very different.

Just get your tires balanced and get an alignment done.

Wow, it must be horrible to have a car that needs rack and pinion replaced twice. Is it a truck or SUV?

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Originally posted by: Bad_Dude

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
AFAIK, your rack and pinion has NOTHING to do with your car shaking violently at highway speeds. I've had mine replaced twice. My symptoms? My wheel would lock up when trying to turn it. You had to turn it from side to side to "break" it loose. Also, steering became very loose. All in all the steering felt very different.

Just get your tires balanced and get an alignment done.

Wow, it must be horrible to have a car that needs rack and pinion replaced twice. Is it a truck or SUV?

Car - 88 Accord. The 2nd time was about 4 months after we initially had it replaced, so our guy replaced it under warranty luckily or else my dad would have blown a gasket

edit: not on the car i mean

 

[Nohr]

Someone stole just one tire?

 

[rival]

thread stealing here..but i recently had my tires rotated/balanced in my '81 ford f250..and it seems to shake a bit on the freeway...did they mess up the balancing? or is it somethin else?