Steering issues

[neolobo]

Hi,
I have already posted about a rattling while driving 50 mph or faster. After checking wheels, bearings and CV joint I think it is the steering gear box. When I wiggle the left wheel left right you can hear a clicking noise in that gear box, same if you turn the steering wheel left right when the car stands. Is there some adjustment possible or do I have to replace that thing. And if where do I get cheap replacement?
Thanks for your answers, Wolf

[Movin]

inner or outer tierod ends or the rack?

[neolobo]

I can't exactly say where it is because I have never before worked on a steering. I thougt that the gears might be worn out, but that is just a guess.

[WmWatt]

Loose tie rod end is pretty easy to see or feel. Can also compare to other side.
There are rubber boots to inspect for tears. Sometimes they can be pulled back for inspection of what's inside.
That may mean releasing metal band and some replace metal band with nylon cable tie although I've never hand
any problem reusing the metal band when regreasing CV joints.
A garage mechanic can put the car up on a hoist for easier inspection and tell you what he thinks is happening.
Maybe you could find someone who specializes in front end repair.

[neolobo]

Ok, I lift the car tomorrow, remove that rubber and check if I can see or feel what it could be. If I turn the wheel I have some loose way about 10-degrees and at the end you hear that clicking noise. I also figured out that the rims do not exactly fit. They are only centered by the bolts and not by the center ring of the rim and axle. So I will change to original steel rims to see if it makes a difference.

[TominMO]

Ok, I lift the car tomorrow, remove that rubber and check if I can see or feel what it could be. If I turn the wheel I have some loose way about 10-degrees and at the end you hear that clicking noise. I also figured out that the rims do not exactly fit. They are only centered by the bolts and not by the center ring of the rim and axle. So I will change to original steel rims to see if it makes a difference.

The bolts will center the wheel by themselves. Otherwise you couldn't install aftermarket wheels, which will never fit snugly on the center ring, since they are designed to fit a wide variety of cars.

Your boots will be torn unless they have been replaced. If you end up replacing the tie rod or the tie rod end, you might as well do the boots then too.

In some cases, stock steelies from another car will have the same bolt pattern but the center hub will be too small. That's the case with my Tercel and Aspire; both are 4x100, but Aspire steelies don't fit the Tercel without a spacer to get it past the center ring, because the Tercel ring is just slightly larger than the Aspire's.

[neolobo]

I'm not quite sure if I understand what the boots are? When the Tie rod ends are worn out that is the part of the rod next to the wheel?

[lessersivad]

This video MAY help;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo_DBlkaNGk

Going to :28 of the video will show 2 racks, old and new. At the end of the larger tube are accordion looking black rubber pieces. THOSE are the boots being referred to.

Note; The posted video isn't of a Festiva, but should hopefully give you an idea as to what your looking at.

Hope this helps.

EDIT;

Also another video to explain things. Note, still not a Festiva but it may help get a better idea as to what may be going on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brI2feYiEi8

[neolobo]

Thanks for the videos, that was very helpful. I figured out that it is not the steering but the transmission axle. You can move it in and out by one millimeter. So I need to replace something there, maybe the whole thing. Where can I get a new set and how much is it? Right side is worse than left side.