Inner Tie Rod Question...Help

[funky technician]

hmmmmm, thats a possibility, I'll have to check, thanks, thats the most likely hypothisis so far

[FestivaFun]

whats inside the rack after you remove the tie-rod ends? I'm getting a clunk when I steer back and forth at a stand still, and my steering wheel is not streight, but the wheel are alligned, I took it to an alignment shop, they alligned it, it kept its allignment but after a while I have to have the wheel on an angle to keep it streight, and its not under load like if were the strut bearings, i'm think that maybe my rack is going?its not the outer ends because there new and the strut bearings, although not the smothest, aren't seized, could it skip teeth on the worm gear in the rack do ya think? is there a piston that extends in and out of either end of the rack as you steer that the tie rods screw into? if I need a new rack, will NAPA have them and will the rack come with inner tie rods affexed to the rack already? I originaly thought it was strut bearings but now i'm leaning toward the rack causing the clunk, what were the symtoms of the inner ends going anyhow?

Had the same problem and the amount of steering wheel play just increases; mine increased to 3 inches on either side of center on the steering wheel. I ended up waiting for the steering to completely go; happened while making a slow turn through a country intersection. Nothing would steer at this point. All I could do then was replace the entire steering column assembly with another from my $100.00 parts Festiva. Got everything swapped out and the gearing sets lined up but couldn't connect them. Ended up shelling out $190.00 for a shop to drop the steering column and align, then hookup the steering gears beyond the firewall. No problems since. Hope this helps and you don't wait until it just craps out completely on you. You can still look at the worm gear and see the worn out areas.

[funky technician]

so what exactly went? you said you replaced the column, do you mean to say the rack and input universal? because isn't the rest of the coulmn just a shaft, my wheel also is very loose like you said and i am thinking of just getting a new one from NAPA, but am waiting to hear on another post if the input universal/shaft comes with it, thats the shaft with the universal thing sticking out nerly in the middle of the rack on an angle in this picture, is that what went on yours or the gearing inside of the rack?

[jglutz]

I needed to change the inner tie rods and boots only. I followed the factory manual which recommends taking the steering column out to get the rack out. I'm glad i did because changing the tie rods out was easy. While the rack was out, I cleaned it and repacked the pinion with grease.

[funky technician]

My last post was actually in relation to the above post by "festivafun" , but thanks anyway man, every little bit of info helps, what about you festivafun?