Steering Rack

[tuscan_thunder]

What would a steering rack on its way out feel like?

[BiggestNizzy]

Jack up the front of the car (both sides) and give the wheels a shake and feel for play in the rack

[tuscan_thunder]

will do.

the steering, this weekend, felt like it was sometimes 'sticky' that when turning the wheel there were moments of increased resistance.

I was on roads I'm on all the time and tyre pressures were normal.

[Shug]

will do.

the steering, this weekend, felt like it was sometimes 'sticky' that when turning the wheel there were moments of increased resistance.

I was on roads I'm on all the time and tyre pressures were normal.

If it's at exactly the same point, you could have a damaged tooth on the rack or the pinion, jamming it up a bit.

[tuscan_thunder]

it's more like tramlining really, like the pressures are low and it's pulling. As i turn the wheel, it does the usual Elise delicacy thing then hits what I can best describe as 'stiction' just occasionally - not at any specific steering input: sometimes 1/8th of a turn, sometimes at 1/4 etc.

Geo is maybe just out (it 'looks' right.....) but it's a different feeling to geo/toe setting being out

[Shug]

it's more like tramlining really, like the pressures are low and it's pulling. As i turn the wheel, it does the usual Elise delicacy thing then hits what I can best describe as 'stiction' just occasionally - not at any specific steering input: sometimes 1/8th of a turn, sometimes at 1/4 etc.

Geo is maybe just out (it 'looks' right.....) but it's a different feeling to geo/toe setting being out

Weird, might be something floating about inside the rack (like bits of a broken end-cup possibly) and getting in the teeth... Definately jack it up and check for play as if anything's broken in there, it'll show up with that - might also be worth turning the rack from wheels with no load on it - will show up the stiff points. Not a major hassle to re-build a rack.

[Rich H]

Knackered ball joint(s)?