I have been looking at an issue that pertains when I turn the wheel. You can only hear it at low speeds. It would seem to pop and you could feel it slightly in the steering wheel. I thought maybe it was the suspension and it appears that is not the case. I have tracked it down to the U Joint connections in the steering stem. It is not the one by the rack and pinion but the one higher up. It seems that is popping sometimes. Any ideas on how to remedy this? I tried to get some lithium grease up there but its hard to reach. Spray might work better.

Anyone else has this issue?

 

Sounds like you found what needs to be replaced.
944-347-027-02

 

Popping heard & felt in the steering wheel during low speed turns is also a symptom of a bad ball joint, so worth checking that too unless you are convinced its the steering shaft joint(s).

 

That is what I was trying to check. I shook both the right and left wheels. I tried to move the wheels when my hands were at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions and the wheel didn't have any movement. I'm not sure what else to check for balljoints. Then I cycled the steering by moving the wheel on the spndle and I heard some popping on the right side, then I tried getting my ear closer and not once did I hear anything form the control arm area. It was all about the steering rack.

 

If it's not a ball joint, what about tie rod ends? Check ball joints by jacking up the front end enough so the tires are off the ground. Then use a pry bar to push up on the tire. If you see the ball joint moving at all (i.e. compressing), it's bad. You need to use a fair amount of force. Rocking it with your hands may not be enough, which is why a big cheater bar or 2x4 is good to have.

If those are good, noise could be the steering shaft splines slipping maybe? You would feel that in the steering wheel though.

This video is sort of helpful:
http://clipshack.com/Clip.aspx?key=B7C4B9EC888F4D8A