aussie983

iTrader: (16)

My tires on my 93 started getting worn down and bald, and also the steering started to act really weird. The wheel seems to jerk randomly in your hand as you drive, feeling like it wants to pull the tires a certain direction. You have to hold onto it pretty tight to stop it from moving, yet it feels like the steering is loose. Like, itll jerk the steering wheel like a good 30 degrees maybe without any effect to the steering, but its scary when the wheel jerks in your hands, yet the front wheels dont appear to move with the jerk.

So i took it down to replace the tires and got an alignment, and yet the problems still exists?

Could it be something in the power steering? steeering linkage? tie rods?

Also it seems like theres some fluid leaking from a certain hose that is behind the engine block sides. I think i traced it to power steering, and the fluid is darkish in color??

Any ideas whats causing this?

dude88888

Sounds like your steering rack is on its way out. Unless the leak you have is getting air into your power steering system and giving you these symptoms. I would try repairing the leak and see what happens before swapping your steering rack out though.

bhunter

iTrader: (3)

The steering fluid is dark on our cars. They use ATF, not the clear stuff. You probably have a leak on the high pressure hose in addition to your jerking problem.

JRS89MAX

iTrader: (2)

Check that leak and the belt. I had my steering getting tight and it would jerk to the right. Check my belt and wow was it loose. Problem solved. Did it today. You may also wanna bleed the system for air.

vansskaterfreek

iTrader: (14)

does it jerk under acceleration????and when you release the gas, does it jerkl back????? if so ill bet money on your lower control arm bushings.... i need new ones too and under acceleration, the car jerks to the right, when i let off, the car jerks to the left... check them man.... first go up to your wheel and jerk it from the left to the right.. or get someone else to do it while you look under the car

aussie983

iTrader: (16)

I had added some pyroil/valvoline power steering fluid with leak fixer.
Would that have affected it? The stuff was clear. Should i stop using that and use dexron III? atf instead?

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

BINGO!!

the leaking PS eats the bushing too

I sell what you need to fix it

vansskaterfreek

iTrader: (14)

yeah, my power steering is leaking like a ****!!!!! and i cant stop it...... and i dont know where it is coming from...... i have a spare power steering pump, i just dont feel like fixing it.... i am using regualr power steering fluid..... should i swap over to tranny fluid?

robdog

What if it pulls and rattles also? I just changed the front struts (admittedly to monroe sensatracks), and the passenger side is still rattling when going over bumps or cracks in the road. It also pulls a little while driving. Any thoughts? I thought maybe it could be the tie rod, but now i'm thinking the steering rack.

vansskaterfreek

iTrader: (14)

check that bushing!!!!!!! and did you get an alighment done?

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

mounts? sway bar links?

Nickelrw87

my car jerks to the right when i accelerate, and then jerks back to the left when i let off, i desperatly need a alignment - so i thought it was just that but from readin the above it looks like i need more then that **** bum

vansskaterfreek

iTrader: (14)

my guess is you need a lower control arm bushing

aussie983

iTrader: (16)

Okay the alignment place, Goodyear tells me that my rack and pinion is on the way out? Should i believe him. Should I get a second opinion?

If it is the rack, what exactly is wrong with it, and where can I get a replacement and how much? Can this be done yourself? If not, how much for labor would I be looking at?

EDIT: I just saw the other thread about the steering boots. I noticed they were torn up a while ago, but I thought nothing of it. Is this why the steering rack is going out?

vansskaterfreek

iTrader: (14)

rack and pinion is REALLY expensive.. probably more than what your car is worth... take it to a few other places to see what they say too

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

racks aren't that expensive

vansskaterfreek

iTrader: (14)

to buy them and get someone to install them...... HA HA.... just go to other places and get them to check it out for free, and see if they say the same thing