j2b4o

I'm getting ready to replace the rack and I'm hoping one of you knows what broke on mine for peace of mind. The arm of the rack that connects to the inner tie rod on the passenger side is able to rotate which causes the wheel to move in at the rear. So if u grab the bracket where the dampner attaches you can spin the assembly counter clockwise almost half a turn. I realize it's a failure inside the rack I'm just puzzled as to what and I like to understand things fully so it's bugging me. Thanks for reading and hopefully someone can clarify this for me.

dicer

Sounds like the lock nut is backed off and the rack is fine. If I understand what your saying.

j2b4o

Thanks! I'll check that asap!
you talking about the lock nut on the inner tre or the rack itself? The tre is tight so that's not the problem the piece extending out of the end of the rack itself moves

bradland

Inner tie rod???
Have you removed the boot?

A pic is worth a thousand words...

j2b4o

inner tie rod= inner tie rod end

yes the boot is removed and once I took the driver side boot off I was able to see the entire inner rod of the rack can move not just the passenger side.
i just checked the lock nut on the adjustment bolt and it was nice and tight. And I tightened the adjustment bolt and it had no effect. It must be the splines on the rack or the steering shaft worn or broken, the car is 27years old and had 190k on it.

dicer

The lock nut is on the tie rod that goes into the tie rod ball joint. When it is loose you can adjust the toe in and toe out of that wheel. The inner just turns to allow the tie rod to be turned, the only thing to worry about is the take off the small boot clamp so you don't twist the boot. If the steering wheel just freely turns and the wheels don't then the rack is junk.

j2b4o

Like I said the inner tie rod and all associated pieces are nice and tight with no play. You turn the steering wheel and the wheels turn. The rod that passes through the rack can rotate if you twist it, not fully but enough to move the toe angle. So like was in my first post and most subsequent posts the rack has a failure, I'm trying to figure out what has failed, internally. When you suggested the lock nut my mind went to the adjustment bolt(which has a lock nut) which I hadn't yet played with, however that is also not the issue. I have never seen a car with this specific failure so I'm mostly just curious.