Steering rack issues
 

Hey guys,

So lately my car (2000 civic Si, ~120k) has been making a bit of a heavy click when I slightly turn the steering wheel. If I turn it slightly left and right you can hear it, its like a metallic click.

I thought it was my tie-rods or ball joints, so I checked those today, and they're fine. Everything is tight suspension wise as well. I had someone turning the wheel while I was under the car and it looks like the actual steering rack is wobbling around internally. It is tight on the car, but I could feel it moving around as the wheel was being turned.

Has anyone had to deal with something like this before? Does this sound like the rack is what needs to be repaired/replaced? Is it rebuildable or should I be looking for a new rack? It is power steering and it is not leaking at all. Any thoughts?

Thanks

Nothing?

OMG my wifes car is the same yr and make as yours and its doing the exact same thing!!- just in the front passenger side though.
I had it to the mechanic back in the fall, they put it up on the joist and said there is nothing wrong with it. Yeah ok - its normal to hear that sound.

Anyways, I am waiting till the new yr to take it to somewhere on the website here and get them to look at it. Lord I hope its nothing serious.

I've never head of this problem on these cars before. Without seeing the car I don't really know what to tell you...lol.

Sounds like one or some of the bushings in the rack are worn. I'd remove the rack, put it up on a the work bench, start pulling it apart and see what's what. It may be rebuildable but I've never looked into this before.

Mine is clicking on the driver side I think.
I figured its a bushing in the rack. Thanks for the input.

how the fluid look? level? if the bushing is gone you might be leaking a bit of fluid. It'll collect in the boot around the inner tie rod. Poke a hole and if fluid comes out then you know the bushing/seals in your rack need to be replaced. Also you may have a worn spot on the inner tie rod and when the car is up in the air the suspension isn't in the same angles as when the suspension is loaded up so you may not be able to isolate the issue in the air. It may need to be put on a drive on hoist with turn tables for the front wheels to be checked under load.

Other things to consider is the sway bar links (fairly obvious and any tech likely would have checked those already) and the bushings. Not as obvious, you could have a build up of rust or even a cracked sway bar hidden under the bushings. I've not seen this on civics but I have on other cars where in the case of rust, replacing the bushings and slapping on some silicone grease can get rid of the noise with similar symptoms to what you're having. Road salt can get into weird places and do funny things to cars, this is an area I'd check while under it.

Thanks for the advice, I'll check those things. Fluid level was normal so I don't think it is leaking, but will take a look nonetheless.