Hi,

I recently replaced all of the components in the front end of my '84 242. New control arm bushings, new tie rod ends, new ball joints, new struts. All of the old parts had over 100k on them (car has 350k miles on it) so I don't feel that I wasted my time or money, but the symptoms that I had before doing the work persist, and now I wonder if the steering rack is bad.

Driving down the road, there is a "wobble" in the steering wheel. The wheel moves from center to the right and back to center again. Wash, rinse, repeat. With this the car pulls violently to the right and there is a knocking sound. It feels like the right front wheel is about to come off the car. (I rotated the tires thinking that perhaps one of the rims was not true - didn't help).

Could anything else cause this, or am I looking at replacing the rack?

Thanks,
John

"Wash, rinse, repeat."?

When you did all the work, did you double-check fasteners? Did you check wheels for looseness? Have an alignment after the new struts?

repeating other posts:

1st, jack it up and see if you can move the front wheels by hand. Grab at 9 & 3, then 12 & 6.

Check steering rack fasteners (to cradle), inner tie-rod ends.

The probl;em should be gross if it drives that badly.
--
240 drivers / parts cars - JH, Ohio

Also, you should take a look at the U bolts that fasten the rack to the crossmember. If those are loose you might experience such symptoms as you describe.


--
'80 DL 2 door, '89 DL Wagon

"Driving down the road, there is a "wobble" in the steering wheel."

As kitchenrat suggests, check the wheel bearings. If the castle nut is too loose, the rotor may be wobbling.
--
1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb, M46 trans, 3:31 dif, in Brampton, Ont.

First, is the rack leaking? How is the fluid level in the reservoir? Have you listened for mechanical noise? You should check for sloppiness where it bolts to the inner tie rods and lower steering shaft u-joint.

Also you might want to check the 2 steering shaft u-joints. Particularly the lower, which is the one that normally goes. The u-joint could be worn out - especially at 350k...:) If you're lucky it might only be binding up. Try spraying a lube at the joint as you go lock-to-lock with your steering for a few minutes. Soak it down and hit it from different angles. BTW - This might take a few tries but it's worth it since new OEM ones are close to $100, if they are still available... I know the upper u-joint is not.

have you checked the wheel bearings?