Hey guys and gals, just want to give you heads up that if you feel looseness in your steering and slight sway when turning, it may be time to get the rack and pinon looked at. I have 99k on an 05 SE max and just had my replaced, boy what a diffrence in the feel when driving. Just wanted to provide info.

 

How much did it run you?

 

Went to several places and some wanted from 585.00 to 1000.00 without alignment. So I finally settled and got it done at the stealership of all places for 650.00, brand new one, not remanufactured rack and pinion. I heard the remanufactured iones may be a headache down the road. Got that information from www.AA1Car.com I didnt like going to the stealership, but I wasnt feeling good bout driving around town and had to do it quick, wanted to take a trip out of town. Good Luck

 

You say looseness - do you mean between the rack and wheel or could you still turn the wheel easily? I'm having a problem where my car literally pulls HARD in whatever direction the road is leaning, which to me is very loose but I didn't consider the rack. I always assume when the racks goes your steering will be stiffer.

 

On a previous car I owned when the rack went my steering got real loose. The car basically would follow the grooves and humps in the road if I let go of the wheel. The problem you described sounds exactly how my car reacted. Get it checked out quick.

 

Were the inner/outer tie rods and/or rack bushings eliminated as the culprits beforehand?

 

I asked the service guy to see the rack when it was pulled off and he was real kool about it. The problem that the mechanic showed me was the inner tire rod sockets on both sides were very loose in my hand when I shook them. He also said the seals inside may gone bad. But since the change it has been alot better, have to get new tires and the struts changed then I should be steady and ready to zoom zoom again. It felt like I could not control the steering sometimes. Hope this helps a little and good luck.

 

That sounds just like my prob. Thanks.