zorbas23x

Comming back from the PCA races last night from Daytona.The car was acting scary. There were times where i thouhgt i was going to loose control of it.It was all over the road,strugging to keep it strait.The steering felt very loose.First thing i did this morning was check out the front end on both sides and every thing checked out ok.No loose screws wheels where nice and tight and i dont think that if the rack bushings are bad it would behave so extreme.Now things i done to it the week before.New rubber,new tie rods,new boots and a wheel alignment on hunter DSP600 machine at my local sears.WTF is going on here?What else do i need to check.A lot of advice is appreciated

Landseer

Check the steering rack shafts, left and right, for front back motion.

On stands, wheels full left, left shaft in its extended position, move fore aft, perp to its usual motion.
Repeat with right. Report back.

Did you counterhold steering shafts when replacing tie rods?

NoVector

I would have done the same thing and checked the lug nuts first. Sounds like maybe a bolt on the eccentric backed out; or maybe your tie rod lock down nut backed out. Essentially, your tire/car would track down every groove in the road. This web site has a quick reference to see if your alignment is out. If it is, I’d take it back to Sears. My $.02

http://members.rennlist.com/captearl...uickcheck.html

Fogey1

I wonder if your "rag joint," an All-American parlance for an in-line coupler in the steering column, has died? The 928 has a rag coupler right next to the exhaust manifold.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rag_joint>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rag_joint

The symptoms you describe match those I've experienced with the two coupler failures I've experienced. Mine were progressive as the coupler tore more and more. That is, the looseness got worse over time, without failing catastrophically.

GlenL

Jack the front of your car up, grab the tires at "3 and 9" and work it back and forth. Do it again grabbing at "12 and 6." Then find the loose component(s).

Landseer

Won't find the rack rod problem, but works with other issues.

GlenL

Where the rod moves inside the rack? I found a worn bushing inside two racks this way.

There's a lot of parts that could be loose. Gotta start digging in.

pcar928fan

My '84 is doing the same sort of thing and if I ever get a job again will go to the shop for sorting... or if you guys will buy enough calendars and DVD's for me to cover the costs of the repair!