Vertical play in steering rack???

[michaelmiller85]

I've just purchased a 93 Festiva L. Am about to get the car aligned, replaced ball joints, and new tires and inspected the steering rack. The steering rack doesn't have any dust boots, which I will be getting prior to the alignment.

I noticed that went I moved the wheel left and right the steering rack gear (the part the connects to the inner tie-rod) moves up and down, is this bad? I can't see much of any lateral play. The gear in the steering rack moves up until it contacts the steering rack housing.

Help! The car was jacked off the ground when I performed the check.

Michael

[Team Lightning]

It's not good. I just replaced mine for that very reason. Mine was like that on the left side. It tightened my steering up a lot when I changed it. No play at all now.