91 sho manual transmission. This just happened tonight so I can't really check anything out until daylight. But I was at the store and was normally reversing and I heard this loud clunk or more of a thud sound in my front end. Now I can't steer and the wheel won't move. Of course if I use quite a bit of force the wheel will turn but I had to get towed home. So from what I can see with a flashlight I noticed some transmission fluid leaking from the driver side of the wheel next to the transmission. Perhaps coming from the axle shaft. The car goes into gear fine so I'm at a loss. Has anyone had this problem before? Can it be a bad axle shaft or a bad CV joint??? The transmission has never been low on fluid and the car is all stock with no performance upgrades so the car is never abused or ragged out. Of course tomorrow I will have a better look and will be able to take the wheel off to inspect things further. Some help or advice would be much appreciated!
Something in front end broke. No steering
- Thread starter ShoNuff91
- Start date
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NEp8ntballer
cyber ninja
sounds like you might have an issue with the steering rack and a seal blew or something. get the front end in the air and see what the deal is.
++ Sounds like the rack. The tranny has nothing to do with steering, but the bulk of the steering rack's valving I believe is right in front of the driver.
jelloslug
Digital
And most cars have ATF in the power steering system so it can appear that the fluid came from the tranny.
I forgot to add, if you can steer the car a lot easier when it is moving than when it is standing still, that would confirm you lost your power steering.
I had a cracked rack and it did the same, no fluid loss just no power steering, I drove the car home (over 1500 miles) check the rack at the top where it would connect to the steering column. my housing was cracked about 1 inch from the top.
(Update) Well thankfully I think you may all be correct. I originally thought I had a cv joint or an axleshaft die. But after noticing the power steering fluid had leaked out I filled it up. and I had steering again. Unfortunately It all leaked out quickly and had the same symptoms. Still have the hard thump or a bang when I turn the wheel to the left. I know a family mechanic that doesn't live far from me and he has a full garage setup. So hopefully I can get it up on a lift and inspect further. Upon wheel stands I cant see much. Considering how compact everything is in the Taurus frame with the sho engine. Thoughts anyone????
luigisho
SHO Member
I think you might wish it was a cv axle. If it's not an easy hose or line replacing a rack is a PITA.
Racer X
SHO Pilot, Retired
Really? I feel like it's an hour to 90 minutes to R/R a rack...
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