YACT: steering rack clunk

[Pepsi90919]

vehicle:
1995 Ford Taurus
3.0L V6 (non SHO)
277,000 km (173,125 miles)

i have an audible clunk in the steering rack which is most noticeable when you turn the steering wheel left and right at a standstill with the engine running. the inner and outer tie rods have been ruled out. my question is if this is going to get to the point where i will lose steering control or not. thx

 

[TechnoKid]

i assume you have checked fluid level, and have flushed the fluid in the rack? If the fluid is fine, and the tie rod ends are fine as you said, its prob the gears inside the p/s rack. Would probably need a new rack in this case. Are you noticing any loss in power steering? Could also be the steering rack bushings, if the bushings are loose or worn the rack will move when you steer and could produce clanking sounds.

 

[Pepsi90919]

i have not flushed the fluid. the fluid level is fine. the power steering assist is fine, no loss warm or cold. as far as i know, the rack itself isn't moving around.

 

[Evadman]

If you move the wheek 1/2 turn right, then back left in an alternating pattern, do you hear a clunk each time? If so, then the rack mounting is not all there, and one or both sides have come loose.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Chances are it's the rack bushings, and it would be a freak thing for you to totally lose steering because of them.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Evadman
If you move the wheek 1/2 turn right, then back left in an alternating pattern, do you hear a clunk each time? If so, then the rack mounting is not all there, and one or both sides have come loose.

yep that's how i get it to clunk, but i worked the wheel back and forth while my suspension/brakes mechanic felt for play and he said it was coming from the rack. so i went under and he worked the wheel back and forth and i couldn't see anything moving that shouldn't have been.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Chances are it's the rack bushings, and it would be a freak thing for you to totally lose steering because of them.

can you explain what you mean? i don't talk "street" so i dunno what you mean by freak

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Chances are it's the rack bushings, and it would be a freak thing for you to totally lose steering because of them.

can you explain what you mean? i don't talk "street" so i dunno what you mean by freak

I mean that it is very unlikely to happen.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Chances are it's the rack bushings, and it would be a freak thing for you to totally lose steering because of them.

can you explain what you mean? i don't talk "street" so i dunno what you mean by freak

I mean that it is very unlikely to happen.

oh. kthx

 

[Pepsi90919]

final bump

 

[Slappy00]

heh you said "rack"

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Slappy00
heh you said "rack"

don't make me Slappy00 you