Wanted ISO '89 SC rack and pinion

[Matt_aka_Dale]

It seems my used rack and pinion is showing its age giving me free play while driving which makes things interesting and exhausting. I've checked eBay and may get a Cardone reman from Rock Auto, but wanted to see if I could find a cheaper alternative that's just as good from here. Any thoughts? Offers?

 

[XR7-4.6]

IMO unless it’s leaking fluid into the boots the rack is probably ok. Most free play is symptomatic of worn inner and/or outer tie rods and rag joint.

 

[Matt_aka_Dale]

IMO unless it’s leaking fluid into the boots the rack is probably ok. Most free play is symptomatic of worn inner and/or outer tie rods and rag joint.

I'll definitely need to recheck the inner tie rods again but I've not had any movement out of them. The rag joint was replaced with the Flamming River ss joint and has no additional movement out of it.

 

[Grog6]

You do need to track that down; no steering would suck at 70,lol.
block the wheels, and have someone move the wheel, while you figure out whats moving. There's a shaft designed to slide inside each other, in a slip fit, that's probably your problem.

 

[Matt_aka_Dale]

You do need to track that down; no steering would suck at 70,lol.
block the wheels, and have someone move the wheel, while you figure out whats moving. There's a shaft designed to slide inside each other, in a slip fit, that's probably your problem.

I checked the interior section of the steering column by worming underneath the dash. It "clicks" once in either direction at just the right spot. I can also move the steering wheel around enough that it feels like the bearing is wearing out. There didn't look like any free play in the interior section of the steering shaft. I had someone slightly turn the steering wheel back and forth while I did what I could to see the external section of the steering shaft(I couldn't get under the vehicle to see better - I need my shop's drive-on rack). What I was able to see was the input shaft of the rack and steering shaft turning together but no movement in the wheels, hence why I went looking for a rack. This probably should have been put in a technical thread now.

 

[Grog6]

They're all technical,lol. That sounds like tie rod ends. They're cheap. do them all at once. They shift the alignment, and will wear tires. You'll need an allignment after.

 

[theterminator93]

Does the vehicle wander on the roads with no steering input when you are trying to drive straight, or when you hit bumps?

 

[Matt_aka_Dale]

Does the vehicle wander on the roads with no steering input when you are trying to drive straight, or when you hit bumps?

It does drift to the left and right on the highway and minimal corrections are made to adjust. Nothing when hitting bumps from what I can recall (I try to avoid anything that would take the steering wheel from my hands). It's not sloppy loose just something I noticed more recently.