Thread: Steering wheel wobble. HELP!!

Alright guys, so I just installed a rack and pinion out of a low mile gxp that was wrecked. Steering response is much better, but I have a wobble when the steering wheel is straight. It like needs to turn slightly to actually turn the car. When I'm driving down the road, I can literally move my wheel back and forth about a half inch. Last rack was ****, but it never did that.

Will an alignment cure this problem?? Or am I missing something here?

it should, get it done asap before the tires wear oddly.

Are you sure that will cure it? I thought alignments were strictly for camber, caster, toe. Will it help slop in the steering??

if you changed the rack, took off the tie rod ends and all, it needs an alignment regardless.

unless you took all the other cars parts and left it whole, its parts could be shot or worn out. inner tie rods, outer tie rods.

either way it should get an alignment. the rack and tie rods are your toe in and out.

Oh gotcha. So they actually adjust the tie rods in and out? So if they're too far in, the steering won't engage until it comes in contact correct? I think I got it now.

the steering works, each wheel is independent of the other, they break that lock nut free, then turn the inner rod to make the wheel go out or in as needed. for each wheel.


so if those parts are not aligned the wheel is off center, car can pull to one side, or vibrate or shake the cars front end.

if you took the whole rack and rods and didnt take them off the rack, your car is not the other car, the alignment wont be the same.

Gotcha. Thanks dude. You're real helpful. Usually when I see stupid questions like this I scroll along, but I apretiate your time.

its fine. as long as you got the picture how it works.

get a pc alignment from a good shop. thats the rack with all the mirrors and lasers. you'll get a 4 wheel alignment cause its what you need. for around 75 bucks. shops like firestone offer a 6 month warranty, for 75, or for like 150 ish you get lifetime. you can have it checked/adjusted every 5,000 miles for free as long as you own it.

There was a bushing that fell out somewhere during this install and I have absolutely no idea where it came from. I just heard it fall and picked it up. Searched the pn And couldn't find anything. It did my go to my sub frame, tie rods, etc. came from something else. I'll snap a pic maybe you can help me

theres only one bushing that could fall out, its to the rack. unless it was a 4 inch round one, thats a sub frame bushing.

And I'd just assume you did this, but bleeding the power steering is required also when you swap out racks. Because now there is air trapped in the system and can make a difference in how it steers.

God damnit I just checked my old rack and that bushing matches the two that are on there. The rack in my car is missing the bushing on one side.... I don't want to go through all that again. ****

pull the bolts, lift it out the frame, slide bushing back in, pull it back in. you got room for that with out dropping the frame. that could be any play you feel, or mush in the wheel.

Well I'm definitely missing a bushing. I had to drop my subframe because my sway bar was in the way of the bolts. That was it, you were right. I'm heading out to watch the games tonight but the rack is lifted up. Bushing will go in tomorrow and I'll button it up. I'll report back if it fixes the play. Thanks again

good luck.

Rack is back in. The steering shaft boot was giving me problems so I left it off. I don't drive it in the Rain or the Winter, so I'm not worried about the elements. The "Wobble" is gone, but it needs an alignment bad, steering wheel is not centered.

Now I have another issue....There is a clicking when putting the car in Gear. I had my brother in law watch the motor, and it isn't the mount. I replaced that back in May... It's like a clicking noise, and I think its my CV axles. The driver side CV axle is slightly removed from the transfer case, and I can move it in and out about an 1/8" of an inch. Is it supposed to be flush with the transfer case? I seriously just had my hubs off.

I'm going to try to upload a video.

1/2 shafts move in and out of the tranny. normal. as long as its not pulling out all the way. theres a C clip holding it in there.

Video:

View My Video

check the strut mounts out. watch the engine when shifting it in and out of gear, if its moving more then a inch the mounts are bad somewhere. upper or lower.

You don't think it's a cv problem at all?? I'll take a video of the engine and hopefully you can tell me if it's moving too much.