Slop In The Steering

[jrod2423]

i've been noticing lately that my steering is getting more and more sloppy the more i drive the worse it gets. so the feelings im getting is like there is a groove in the road and my car wants to pull to the left or right and when im accelerating the steering is really really sloppy and will pull to which ever direction the tires are closest too, so does anybody know what is wrong or broken? Becuase at the moment i think my rack and pinion is starting to go bad but i don't want to throw $200 at it and that not be the problem.

 

[95Vert383AOD]

Check your Ball Joints....Thats usually the feeling of the ball joint shifting in the socket and throwing the wheel out of alignment.

 

[jrod2423]

Really, I've already had them replaced a little more than a year ago and I'd hate to think they are already bad now

 

[g96v6-250k]

replace the rack-pinion bushings?

 

[jrod2423]

No not yet, that's my big question is what would it be, I have plans and the parts to replace the sway bar stabilizers and sway bar bushings but then this turned into a more serious problem then I thought so now I'm lost on what to do without replacing every suspension part

 

[95Vert383AOD]

Best wat is to get the car on jack stands or a lift and get a crow bar. Check for play in the tie rods and ball joints. Then check the lower control arm bushings. The bolts should be centered in the bushing. If all else fails then its the rack. The only time ive seen a rack fail was from running it dry. A good alignment shop will put it on a lift and check all joints.

I have also seen cheap aftermarket ball joints fail in a years time. Decent ball joints and control arms are greasable and have fittings.

 

[jrod2423]

Ok I'll have to jack it up and see what i can find, and the ball joints I have are grease-able because I check them when I change my oil and they are always full