i didnt know where to post this at since there isnt a steering section, but for the last few days, when i turn my wheel it makes a weird grinding scraping whinning noise underneath the hood. yes i have fluid, yes my belt is tight. i was told a while ago from my shop saying that the rack was making a slight noise or it was loose or something, i forget, and he said it might go sometime, well i guess now was the time for it to give in...

does anyone know where i can get a new rack and pinion for a good price, and if there is a good write up, and if anyone has done it before, and could possibly help me out with anything i might need to know, or any tricks or anything of the such, or something else it might possibly be? my dad said that lucas power steering additive stuff will help it for a little while because it helped my moms car for a while since hers was shot too, so has anyone any experience with this stuff, and if it will help for a little while until i get it fixed?

Originally posted by bloodyangel1
i didnt know where to post this at since there isnt a steering section, but for the last few days, when i turn my wheel it makes a weird grinding scraping whinning noise underneath the hood. yes i have fluid, yes my belt is tight. i was told a while ago from my shop saying that the rack was making a slight noise or it was loose or something, i forget, and he said it might go sometime, well i guess now was the time for it to give in... does anyone know where i can get a new rack and pinion for a good price, and if there is a good write up, and if anyone has done it before, and could possibly help me out with anything i might need to know, or any tricks or anything of the such, or something else it might possibly be? my dad said that lucas power steering additive stuff will help it for a little while because it helped my moms car for a while since hers was shot too, so has anyone any experience with this stuff, and if it will help for a little while until i get it fixed?

I had the EXACT same problem... First, I greased the ball joints, then I completely removed all of the power steering fluid and filled up with one quart of lucas power steering stop leak, (it's all it can hold) and BAM! no more grinding/scraping noise. Only problem is that on cold mornings the wheel is hard to turn without pushing on the gas pedel a little bit. The wheel is only hard to turn for about fifteen-twenty seconds and that's the only problem since.

and how long since you filled it up with the lucas stuff? and if that would cure it, the tight steering for 20 seconds outweighs having to get a new rack and get it installed, but i will definately try that first and see how things go

I got a rack from Advance. I could have got one cheaper but the Advance one had a better warranty. I used a Haynes manual. It's not too hard, just time consuming. Any questions before you start the process just ask.

Tony

Originally posted by bloodyangel1
and how long since you filled it up with the lucas stuff? and if that would cure it, the tight steering for 20 seconds outweighs having to get a new rack and get it installed, but i will definately try that first and see how things go

It's been about two-three months. I have not had a single problem since then.

I've got one laying in my garage. It needs new o-rings on one of the hard lines.

PM me for details.

Dominic I told you yesterday that its not hard to do, its not even really THAT time consuming, it may take you a couple of hours more because you dont have air tools. Did you get the ESM I sent you last night through AIM? Its called "steering box" or something when you search the ESM. It has all the write ups and pretty pics and torque specs you'll ever need :9
The deally with rack and pinions is when theyre shot they leak, at least from what I understand, if its funky/wobbly driving then it could very well be tie rods (inner/outer)or bushings. If its a true Whining sound that gets progressively worse as you turn the wheel, it could be the bearing in your PS Pump...at least thats what it was for me.
The way you told me, is that it doesnt make the noise only when you turn the wheel but also when you stop and go and go over bumps. Based on that synopsis I suspect it may be a bushing that is your issue, so you gotta get up under your car and shake your suspension down and lube it up (the rubber bushings)with graphite. If the noise stops for a while and comes back, replace it OR if the rubber looks decimated, replace it.... of course you could to what I did and urethane all of your bushings :-)
Holla
- Adria

anyone have any opinions to lady adria's theory above me? also, im going to try the lucas stuff first, see if that does anything

My advise is to find out where the noise comes from. Pop the hood and listen while someone else turns your wheel. If the noise comes from the power steering pump, i would suspect pump failure.

Terry

well actually, i tried some of that lucas stuff, but ill be damned if the thing aint fixed. i makes this slight rattle type noise or something that i can only hear outside of the car, but other than that, it stopped making noise, woo hoo! it is slighty tighter at first, but is fine after a few seconds, so lets see how long this will hold for, thanks for all the help everyone

Let me point out that additives are only bandaid's to problems. Tie rods on Fords often make noise, but that doesn't require replacing the whole rack.

Usually you only replace a rack if the seals are blown.

I'm with Terry willing to bet it's your PS pump.

Originally posted by WickedESi
Let me point out that additives are only bandaid's to problems. Tie rods on Fords often make noise, but that doesn't require replacing the whole rack. Usually you only replace a rack if the seals are blown. I'm with Terry willing to bet it's your PS pump.

well it doesnt matter now, more than likely since i got into an accident over the weekend (i made a post in the general section) and the place it got towed to said it was pretty bad, so im gonna stop up there in a little, and take some pics and get them on here and see what you guys think will happen to it...