e30 not Steering Out

[etxxz]

by steering out i mean, the wheel not straightening when you are turning out of a turn, parking space etc. This happens like 80-90degrees each way from wheel center. I can set it anywhere in there, even at 60mph and it won't straighten out.

PS works and the rack will turn maybe not a softly as before, but probably just as softly from lock to lock. tie rods are 6mo old, so are the CA's.

I'm thinking something seized. the only bearings i can think of are the Strut Hat bearings (they seem fine to me) The Steering U-joint (which i added 3-1oil two days ago, its filthy though) and then what?

what could be causing this? Help pleeease i have an event soon.
the car feels very imprecise like this i hate it.

[gearheadE30]

siezed rack would be my first guess, with upper strut mounts second. The upper mounts failed on my car and it felt fine but wouldn't re-center and made awful clicking noises when turning at low speed. The u-joint shouldn't affect it much.

[etxxz]

siezed rack would be my first guess, with upper strut mounts second. The upper mounts failed on my car and it felt fine but wouldn't re-center and made awful clicking noises when turning at low speed. The u-joint shouldn't affect it much.

Okay, i just checked.

Upper strut mounts: perfect, bearings perfect.
Ball Joints, Tie tods: perfect, they are also new.
I rechecked and retorqued everything in the front end.
including the U-joint bolts to make sure the u-joint was pre-loaded.

Seized rack: how do i check this? the rack turns fine side to side. It makes a friction like noise somewhere that i can't make out becuase the engine bay makes a resonance and multiplies the noise. it could be coming from somewhere else also. inner/outer tie rods do vibrate with the noise.

When i turn by the wheels side to side very fast (u-joint spins real fast) There is no noise and i can actually create so much pressure (i think) that PS fluid shoots out from the resevoir (s52 cap has a check valve on it)

U-joint: its loaded with grease/dirt/crap. Sprayed my bike's chain lube on it and seemed to have reduced noise.


Basically, when i turn the wheels fast, its smooth, the rack feels smooth. When i turn slowly, or go back and forth, there is a friction like feel and noise.

Looked inside the cabin, problem is not there. this is an non-air bag car btw.

HOLY CRAP what could it be??

[Farbin Kaiber]

I say there is a bend in the rack. Rack being the flat gear inside the housing. Also, could be a pump pressure issue.

[Liam]

Won't center both ways?

Did you change anything (steering or suspension wise) before this happened?

My first guess is something has got to be binding probably the rack or strut bearings.

[etxxz]

i'm doing all this with the engine (and pump) off. With the engine on, the rack is smooth as butter, but still won't center when driving...and i can't hear noises this way.

you mean the rack and pinion, a bend in the pinion gear? (woa i hope not!)

i haven't changed a thing or done a repair. it happened after the car sat for a week. before i had driven it on the road (florida flat, perfect roads) 9 miles.

caster okay, camber okay: got an alignment couple days after i noticed this. car tracks straight.

[Liam]

i'm doing all this with the engine (and pump) off. With the engine on, the rack is smooth as butter, but still won't center when driving...and i can't hear noises this way.

you mean the rack and pinion, a bend in the pinion gear? (woa i hope not!)

i haven't changed a thing or done a repair. it happened after the car sat for a week. before i had driven it on the road (florida flat, perfect roads) 9 miles.

caster okay, camber okay: got an alignment couple days after i noticed this. car tracks straight.

Hmmm, if the caster is okay and all the ball joints, tie rod ends and strut bearings are too it must be the rack.

Can you get it up on a lift?

[Farbin Kaiber]

Hmmm, if the caster is okay and all the ball joints, tie rod ends and strut bearings are too it must be the rack.

I agree. Also, could be residual gunk, and/or worn teeth on the rack.

[etxxz]

^^^^ hmm..

The front of the car is on jackstands, what would you have me check?

[Liam]

1st see if the tie rod ends are free (if you torque on them will they twist back and forth).

Pull the boots on the rack and look for trash in the teeth or scoring on the rack.

[Kristeun]

So do you mean the car keeps pulling in the direction of your last turn? I'm dealing with this issue myself.

[etxxz]

Pulled the steering rack boots.

On the driver's side, the gears look healthy and fine, but there is brown crap all in/around the teeth, but not the shaft itself. Seems like the grease within the rack as there is other yellow (almost transparent yellow) grease in the slot/some of the shaft. The brown grease feels and looks like mud.

On the pass side, shaft perfect, no signs of grease nothing. some surface rust on rack in there, but seems perfectly normal.

So do you mean the car keeps pulling in the direction of your last turn? I'm dealing with this issue myself.

yesur. pretty much dial in your turning radius and let go of the wheel. The car will keep its radial course rather than straightening out.

[Kristeun]

Pulled the steering rack boots.

On the driver's side, the gears look healthy and fine, but there is brown crap all in/around the teeth, but not the shaft itself. Seems like the grease within the rack as there is other yellow (almost transparent yellow) grease in the slot/some of the shaft. The brown grease feels and looks like mud.

On the pass side, shaft perfect, no signs of grease nothing. some surface rust on rack in there, but seems perfectly normal.

yesur. pretty much dial in your turning radius and let go of the wheel. The car will keep its radial course rather than straightening out.

lol I have the same exact problem and only the driver's side is leaking as well (has ripped the boot in fact).

[Liam]

looking at the rack get someone to turn the steering wheel lock to lock, is it trying to twist (rotate the shaft like a drive-line)?

No one has tried to adjust out the play have they?

[etxxz]

no, doing that the rack is not trying to twist or turn in any way. Its still even soft enough that i can turn the rack by the u-joints by hand, its really hard by pushing on the tires, i remember being able to do it by the tires before...ugh and i can't pinpoint the noise!
why what are you looking for?

no play to adjust. steering is very tight (new CA, CAB, tie rods, camber plates)
what else??

and ty so much btw