Car pulls coming off the gas.

[slingshot]

I just bought a new 91 and when I come off the gas she pulls fairly hard to the right. The axels are new, but I noticed the boots on the rack and pinion are all falling apart. The tie-rods look okay, not new. Would y'all think I need an alignment or should I start shopping for a new steering rack. I would think the rack would just be super sloppy if it was going bad. Please help, gotta get to work tomorrow.

[drddan]

Tie rods can "look" okay, and be bad. It would be better to jack up the car to get the tires off the ground and grab the wheel and try to move it back and forth to see if there is play. (3:00 and 9:00 position)
Play= Bad

There are inner and outer tie rods.

There could also be worn ball joints in the control arm. Check this too, while you are there. Grab the wheel and try to move it in and out to see if there is play (12:00 and 6:00)
Again play= bad

It does sound like you have wear in these areas
Also look around in general at all suspension parts, and give a good look at the stabilizer bar mounts to be sure they are in good shape, including the rubber in them

[htchbck]

My money is on severely worn or even disintegrated/missing swaybar to control arm bushings. Check the big round rubber bushings where the swaybar goes through the middle of the control arm. Right side is probably in very rough shape.

[Eaglefreek]

I agree with htchback. When I bought my Aspire, it was almost scary how bad it torqued steered. One of the nuts for the front sway bar was hanging on by a couple threads.

[slingshot]

Awesome thanks guys.

[zoom zoom]

Don't forget the steering rack. I replaced ball joints and bushings all around my Festiva and it ended up being the steering rack. I could literally steer the car with the gas petal, gas it to go right, decelerate to go left lol.

To be more specific, the rack bushing needed tightened up. Not the end bushings, the middle one. Loosen the big nut, tighten the 10mm bolt then tighten the big but back down. Doing that presses a brass bushing in tighter to the shaft that goes through the rack. They just wear over time, it's brass..

It was so bad I couldn't get an alignment right on my car. Even the professional overlooked it, drive out of his shop and it was still pulling left and right, and they usually tell you if you have bad ball joints because they love the markup on the easy jobs.

[slingshot]

That is good info Zoom. That is on the steering rack yes?

[jhli]

Could you please take a picture of the area on the rack this is?

[Movin]

Hoodini might be able to get a camera in there...

[jhli]

I will take that as a negative. Thanks though.

[Movin]

http://www.autozone.com/repairguides/Honda-Civic-CRX-del-Sol-1984-1995-Repair-Guide/STEERING/Manual-Rack-and-Pinion/_/P-0900c15280061cd5

look at figure 10. Do not change an adjustment that you cannot return to. This is not what a repair shop would or should do for you. They should have a re-builder supply a reman to install. If you do the work though you assume the liability. There are some on this board that rebush and adjust these manual racks only.

Not trying to scare you off doing your work, just dive in with your eyes open!

[zoom zoom]

I don't have time to go get a pic and upload it, but it's underneath the boot that covers the universal joints that attach the steering column to the steering rack. Which is above the crossmember, and on a 5 speed is also above the shift rods. Near the brake lines. A PITA for sure, something that will cause catastrophic disaster if you tighten everything back down, highly doubtful. I wouldn't use too much force, just tighten it down enough to take out the 1/8-3-8" of play the bushing probably has. Wiggle the steering wheel 2" right to left really fast, can you feel a little clunk clunk? Its either that bushing or tie rods. Hard to tell, for me it was the rack.

[Studebaker]

If you are going to keep the car, get a lifetime aliminent. Then let them tell you whats wrong. then repair it your self.