Steering catches and locks at times! HELP!

[GoldlySHO]

Hey all. I have a 92 MTX and I'm having a steering problem. Lately, when I turn to the right the steering we locks in place and I have to force it back towards the left. When I do this it makes a clunk like it's catching something. It never does it when I turn to the left, only the right.
Tonight, when I was at a parking lot, it sorta did the same thing, but when I started driving down the road (straight, no curves), my alignment was all messed up. The car still drove straight and smooth (no pulling to either side) but my steering wheel moved from 12 o'clock to about 5 o'clock. (12 being the steering wheel at a normal position when driving straight)

What's going on here? Do I have a bad Rack?

Thanks all
Eric

 

[Mike Kopstain]

Sounds like you may have had a subframe bushing fail. Don't drive the car until you check. Look under the car, there are 4 mounts holding the subframe on. It is likely that one of these have failed.

 

[GoldlySHO]

Yeah, I sorta wondered about that. That would make the 3rd bushing this year. Oh, well, pretty cheap fix. I'll check it out tomorrow.

Any other ideas feel free to tell me!

Thanks,
Eric

 

[projectSHO89]

Sounds more like one (or two) of the corners of the subframe dropped due to a failure of the attaching nut (pulled out of the body) or a sfb bolt sheared off. Bad juju beans!

DO NOT drive the car until this has been fixed.

Depending on your state (or province) of registration, this may be covered under the provisions of a recall. Do a search on subframe and recall with my user # and see if you can find the link to the NHTSA site for the details.

Steve

<small>[ October 21, 2002, 10:52 PM: Message edited by: projectSHO89 ]</small>

 

[MilTownSHO]

I was going to say its probably the recall also because mine did the same thing and they told me rack and pinion and then it still did it and it turned out to be the recall. Made a huge difference in the handling of the car. Before I couldnt even make U-turns! frown

 

[snowwind1990]

go now to: www.flatratetech.com
Tell them Ma Ma M sent you and ask the Blue Oval guys that know what it is and they can guide you to the exact recall if there is one....your closest dealer could already be a posted member there and get on line with you...
Do this immediately,,you should not drive your Bull until you have Ford look at it...
Please.
Ma Ma M eek!

 

[sdpatt]

You should probably also inspect the steering linkages and the suspension components. I can't imagine how damaged or sheared subfram bolts can cause the steering to lock. If you don't find the subframe bushings or the steering linkages in disrepair, it could be that the problem is due to internal leakage past the seals in the power steering rack. The rack is relatively inexpensive ($79 for reman unit without VAPS), put the effort to install it is high.

 

[projectSHO89]

Here's how it's possible: If the rear corners of the subframe fall, that messes up the whole geometry of the steering system, since the rack is attached to the rear crossmember of the subframe. Living in the sun belt as you do, you'll likely never to see this.

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 93V106002
Component: STRUCTURE:FRAME:MEMBERS AND BODY
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY


Year: 1988 , 1989 , 1989 , 1989 , 1990 , 1990 , 1990 , 1991 , 1991 , 1991 , 1992 , 1992 , 1992 , 1993 , 1993 , 1993 Make: LINCOLN Model: CONTINENTAL , TAURUS , CONTINENTAL , SABLE , TAURUS , CONTINENTAL , SABLE , TAURUS , CONTINENTAL , SABLE , TAURUS , CONTINENTAL , SABLE , TAURUS , CONTINENTAL , SABLE Recall Date: 12/02/1993

Type of Report: Vehicle
Potential Number of Units Affected: 1110000

Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TAURUS AND SABLES BUILT FROM 8-1-88 THROUGH 12-23-92 AND LINCOLN CONTINENTALS BUILT FROM 10-3-88 THROUGH 12-23-92. THE AFFECTED CARS WERE SOLD OR REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CT, IL, IN, ME, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, AND W. BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, MAY BECOME DETACHED DUE TO CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT RETAINING PLATE. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
Consequence Summary:
IF ONE OF THE REAR CORNERS DROPS, ONLY MINOR INDICATIONS OF A MALFUNCTION SUCH AS A CLUNKING NOISE OR SLIGHT CHANGE IN STEERING WHEEL ALIGNMENT ARE NOTICEABLE. HOWEVER, IF BOTH REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME DROP, STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT VEHICLE CONTROL AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Corrective Summary:
INSTALL A CORROSION-RESISTANT REINFORCING PLATE AND A NEW BOLT ON BOTH REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS.

and

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 98V323000
Component: STRUCTURE:FRAME:MEMBERS AND BODY
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY


Year: 1986 , 1986 , 1987 , 1987 , 1988 , 1988 , 1988 , 1989 , 1989 , 1989 , 1990 , 1990 , 1990 , 1991 , 1991 , 1991 , 1992 , 1992 , 1992 , 1993 , 1993 , 1993 , 1994 , 1994 , 1994 , 1995 , 1995 Make: FORD Model: TAURUS , SABLE , TAURUS , SABLE , TAURUS , CONTINENTAL , SABLE , TAURUS , CONTINENTAL , SABLE , TAURUS , CONTINENTAL , SABLE , TAURUS , CONTINENTAL , SABLE , TAURUS , CONTINENTAL , SABLE , TAURUS , CONTINENTAL , SABLE , TAURUS , CONTINENTAL , SABLE , TAURUS , SABLE Recall Date: 12/18/1998

Type of Report: Vehicle
Potential Number of Units Affected: 2697000

Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED, IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
Consequence Summary:
IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Corrective Summary:
DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.

It is also quite possible that the steering column intermediate shaft couplers have slipped (that 5 o'clock thing) due to the pressure applied when trying to stong-arm the steering wheel back into place. If your subframe mounts are secure, my bet would be what Scott said, the rack and that it has developed bad spots that cause sticking, then you may have twisted the shafts in the column.

Steve

<small>[ October 22, 2002, 09:29 AM: Message edited by: projectSHO89 ]</small>

 

[GoldlySHO]

Hey all.

Here's the info I have for you.

I had the car checked out. The subframe bushing and bolts are solid. I replaced the front two bushings about 2 months ago with new bolts. The rears were done about a year and a half ago with new bolts. All are solid.

The rack was replace a year ago in June. I put new tie rod ends on too at that time.

I had the car aligned. It drives straight again as I had a bad passenger side ball joint but I still have the sticking/locking problem. It almost feels and sounds like something in the column is grabbing. Sorta like the ignition key is being turned back and locking the steering wheel. The locking only happens when the steeringwheel is returning to center from a right turn. Never from the left. Can the lock cylinder where out and cause a problems like this?

Thanks,
Eric

 

[Yamaha V6]

I had air in the PS lines do this on my 80 Cutlass, and a pinched line on my Monte do this.

 

[NOTAURIUS]

I have a 92 mtx that does the same thing when you turn left. The suspension creaks and binds up and the wheel locks a little. I changed the axles, spindles, hubs, springs, struts, and strut mounts. guess what-it still does it so now i just drive it. I'm guessing now its the bushings. I got a recall for this on my 90 but not my 92.