Steering rack

[Canada]

I've been fighting my steering....I've got a on center looseness type play in the steering. I've checked everything...and it IS in the rack. Adjusting it has done nothing. I did replace the rack two years ago with a reman from a local auto parts store....didnt really do anything for it.

So what are my options? Are there any better racks that have a good tight feel? Or a rebuild kits that help out out?

[MasterSe7en]

hmmmm what do u mean by it being loose? the only other thing u can get to tighten it up is a different power steering pump, when i was using the one out of an impala it was very tight, personally i like my stock pump better other than that check the little u-joints on the end of the steering column and see if those need to be replaced, that would cause an on center looseness

[Canada]

When you turn the steering wheel the wheels do nothing.

Its in the rack.

Power steering pumps on hydrallically assited systems only assit the manual steering....they dont effect how 'tight' steering is.

I was more curious in finding out how many other people have had this issue or are currently experiencing it....and what my options are besides putting another reman rack into. I'd warranty it out, but it only came with a one year warranty.

[MasterSe7en]

well like i said when i was using the other PS pump from the impala the steering was alot tighter, because the pressure that the pump was putting out wasnt as much as a stock Z28 pump so it did make the steering tighter and harder to deal with, however, like i said have you checked the steering linkage joints to see if they are still in decent shape? they work just like u-joints, lets say the bearings are gone in one of the caps then it would have a small lapse from left to right which would ultimately cause an on center looseness

[Canada]

Yes, the u joints in the steering shaft and the rag joint in the steering shaft are tight. Same goes for the tie rods, ball joints, and control arm bushings....and every other suspension part up front. Other than the rack....I can turn the steering shaft slightly and watch the inner tie rods NOT turn.

A weak or lower output steering simply makes the steering harder to turn....like adding wider tires does. My experience is a excessive amount of play in the steering.

Does anyone know of other options out there for the steering rack besides replacing it with a different reman.....I'd be all about replacing it with some other unit that would work....or fixing my current rack with whatever aftermarket part.

Maybe I'll check out Flaming River...

[MasterSe7en]

well since people here either use the car as a daily driver or drag race, ive never really heard of an "Upgraded" steering rack for our cars but if ur still in warranty with it, i would just try another one, maybe u just had some bad luck at the time and ended up with another rack that wasnt operating properly, im not an expert on steering parts, i know how they work but i have never had to replace mine or anything

[Canada]

No........................its out of warranty....it only came with a one year warranty and I bought it nearly a year ago.