My Steering went out

[Matt A]

Alright this is a long story...

My SHO (with VAPS) can't steer anymore. It was getting smog checked and the smog guy was driving it from it's parking spot to the test area (50 ft) and does something wrong, I don't know what happened, so what happens now, is with the ENGINE OFF and key on, you can turn it about 1/8 of the way, then you feel the feedback, if you turn any harder, it just lets go, the wheel spins freely, until it comes back to that same place, then it starts over. Okay, with the ENGINE ON key on, there is no steering at all... as in it's like it isn't connected, but as you spin the wheel (no locks so it keeps on going and going) you can see the tires twitching. (You can drive the car, but only at about 5mph and with the engine off, with slooowww turns)

So I'm not too worried there was an auto parts store next door to the smog place, so I go over and buy a new "Remanufactered Rack and Pinion" (yayyy $310) and put it in the back seat of the SHO and go wait outside in the rain. When the tow truck comes (yayy again, it's a flat-bed) I tell him about the steering, he says it happens often, So here is the BIG QUESTION what broke? I just put on a new power steering pump and the lines are all fine, is it the rack? I don't want to take it out of the box (this happened yesterday) if it's not the rack... Has this happened to anyone else? Is this an easy fix? HELP ME!!!! AHHHHHH


(edit) and on top of all that, the smog guy wouldn't let me test it! he said since it's doing "weird stuff" with the steering, when it's up on the tester going 35 it could just all of a sudden turn... and go smashing into stuff..

 

[projectSHO89]

Before spending any money, crawl under the steering column and pull the boot that covers the lower part of the column at the firewall. There are three nuts holding it on.

Pull the boot away so you can inspect the pinch bolt that secures the base of the column to the input shaft of the rack. There is a good chance that that pinch bolt joint has failed.

Steve

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Also check to see if one of your rear subframe bushings let go. It would be unusual for this to happen on a CA car, but not impossible. Your symptoms are consistent though.

<small>[ November 02, 2003, 09:38 AM: Message edited by: SHOooo ]</small>

 

[Matt A]

SHOooo:
Also check to see if one of your rear subframe bushings let go. It would be unusual for this to happen on a CA car, but not impossible. Your symptoms are consistent though.

It's not a california car, I bought it in Illinois a little while back... But I do live in California.

<small>[ November 02, 2003, 07:34 PM: Message edited by: Matt A ]</small>

 

[HighBall]

My rear subframe bushings snapped, and the subframe landed on my steering rack and sapped it while I was making a turn! It instantly locked up, and i couldnt turn the wheel at all.

 

[sdpatt]

HighBall:
My rear subframe bushings snapped, and the subframe landed on my steering rack and sapped it while I was making a turn! It instantly locked up, and i couldnt turn the wheel at all.

[scratches head] But the steering rack is bolted to the top of the rear subframe crossmember.

 

[projectSHO89]

sdpatt:

HighBall:
My rear subframe bushings snapped, and the subframe landed on my steering rack and sapped it while I was making a turn! It instantly locked up, and i couldnt turn the wheel at all.

[scratches head] But the steering rack is bolted to the top of the rear subframe crossmember.

He has the orientation upside down, but the result is the same: locked up steering.

Steve

 

[jelloslug]

My boss at work had somthing like this happen to '89 SLO. The rack got stuck in a parking lot manuver. He ended up taking the tie rod off and pushing the end of the rack while someone else moved the wheel back and forth. It popped back in and worked fine after that. Also if you want to save a bit of money you can use the non VAPS rack (there like $80) on you car and return the $310 VAPS rack if you do need to change the rack.

 

[MilTownSHO]

My broken rear subframe mounts on my old 91 cause my steering rack to snap in two while leaving a parking spot, resulting in each wheel pointing in a different direction! eek!

Now that was freaky..and costly.. headbang

 

[HighBall]

sdpatt:

HighBall:
My rear subframe bushings snapped, and the subframe landed on my steering rack and sapped it while I was making a turn! It instantly locked up, and i couldnt turn the wheel at all.

[scratches head] But the steering rack is bolted to the top of the rear subframe crossmember.

Thats just what the mechanic said to me...I hope I didnt get screwed