Steering rack or tie rod ends?

Tricked · 07-28-2009, 10:06 AM

I recently had my '99 Sentra aligned after my RM springs had settled. The passenger toe was way off causing premature wear. Now it rides straight. About a week ago I started hearing a clunk coming from the front. My first thought was that the nut holding the strut to the upper mount was loosing causing the sound since it was more pronounced when turning and over bumps. Last night I just found out where the sound was coming from as I backed into my driveway. I put the e-brake on with the car running and turned the wheel back and forth quickly and reproduced that clunk. I turned the car off and did the same thing to hear the clunk. I had my son turn the wheel back and forth while I grabbed the outer tie rod ends. I felt the vibration through both sides but it didn't feel loose. I felt the rack where the boots connect and both sides felt like they were clunking. I'm guessing it's one or both of the inner tie rod ends. I hope it's not the rack being I only have about 135K miles on the car. Has anyone ever had this problem? I really don't want to replace the whole rack since it's costs over $700. If it's the inner ends, I would replace both inner and outer on both sides with new boots which would be around $115 each side. I have a lifetime alignment so it won't cost anything for that. Does anyone have any idea on how to check if it's the rack and not just the ends?

swiss · 07-28-2009, 12:19 PM

It sounds more like the thrust bearing (I think that's the proper name for it).

There's a bearing built into the top hat of the suspension that allows the spring to rotate when you turn the wheel. When it starts to go bad, it clunks when the spring tries to rotate.

Tricked · 07-28-2009, 12:46 PM

That is not it. I replaced both thrust bearings several thousand miles ago when I did my CSKs/RM setup. I can feel the clunk from the ends of the rack where the inner tie rods connect under the boots. My question is whether it would just be the rod ends or the rack itself? I'm trying to avoid redoing work and spending too much. It's over a $400 dollar difference.

Tricked · 07-29-2009, 09:11 AM

So I'm contemplating getting the complete OEM tie rod ends and boot assembly for $115 each side since the boots have seen better days and the outer ends have cracks forming and in my opinion will be the next part to fail. It would also be easier to to everything at one time. However, $230 is kinda pricey. I could just get away doing both inner ends for $126. What's everyone's opinion? What do you think I should do? Do the entire assembly on both sides or just do the inners?

Sunny · 08-01-2009, 01:33 AM

if you do work on the car yourself and plus you have a lifetime alignment, just do the rack ends 1st (i assume these are the parts needing replacement and making the clunking noise) if you can get away with not replacing the tie-rod ends for now due to cashflow - once you pull em out (check the play on the ball joint and see if its loose (then you will definitely need to replace them as well)

how are your steering rack bushings?

Tevs

Tricked · 08-01-2009, 08:23 AM

They appear to be solid. I'm going to get the car up in the air today, hopefully, and give it a good check.