Steering rack replaced BUT...

[TimMullen]

This is really a long shot, but could your steering wheel lock (the one activated when you remove the key) be messed up and catching, locking the steering from a moment?

Next time it happens, try jiggling the steering wheel back and forth a bit (of course this may be hard in the middle of a tight turn.

[300hpMR2]

Originally Posted by TimMullen

This is really a long shot, but could your steering wheel lock (the one activated when you remove the key) be messed up and catching, locking the steering from a moment?

Next time it happens, try jiggling the steering wheel back and forth a bit (of course this may be hard in the middle of a tight turn.

Thanks for the suggestion.

The first two times i felt the steering jammed, I jiggled the wheel real quick to "release" it. Not sure this tells me much, though.

The tech didn't find any rub marks anywhere to suggest tire rubbing or misalignment.

[Donelise]

Originally Posted by 300hpMR2

I managed to get my car to the dealer this morning. I drove it there gently. Sure enough as I pulled into their driveway, I started hearing a lot of rattling and vibrating. Seemed to be coming from the right front wheel area. As I tried to pulled into the parking spot, the steering started jamming again. So I had to leave it parked diagonally for fear of causing more damage. It was a good thing that this didn't happen to me on a turn and it was good that the tech could then experience it for himself.

So the finding? Not sure! Couldn't find a mysterious object. The tech (and I) looked all around. The biggest finding was a loose front passenger side lower control arm bolt. Could this cause the steering to jam if the geometry is off enough?

After that both the tech and I took turns taking test drives. No more problems. Very strange!

Everything seems to be fine now. I'm keeping an eye on it. Still can't explain the "sliding object" sound.

I really want to make sure the problem is solved. My goal when getting this car was to make it to the track. I've had to get a new tranny, a new steering rack, and new tires. I thought I was finally ready until this issue reared its ugly head. Scares me to think what would have happened if I didn't find out until on the track while in a turn.

Thanks for the offer, Don. Where is your shop?

I was just concerned with your safety, steering racks should never bind or lock. If I can ever be of help I'm @ Competition Engineering
1260-A9 Logan Ave
Costa Mesa Ca
92626
9PM to 5PM Mon-Fri by appointment.
Please have your people or someone do a Pre-Track inspection before
turning a wheel on a race track.
All the best, Don

[300hpMR2]

^That's great info that I'll be saving for the future.

I drove to work and back after the dealer visit. Tooks some spirited turns when no one was around. Hard turns in the parking structure. A hard U-turn. So far no problems or sounds. Very odd!

[jrileyr22b]

Anything further on this situation? I'm about to have a new rack installed and wanted to know if there's something i should discuss or suggest to the tech. thanks!

[300hpMR2]

My steering/suspension hasn't been touched since finding the control arm bolt to be loose. No clunks since. I even did a two day driving event and the steering rack performed flawlessly.

[shinoo]

Originally Posted by 300hpMR2

My steering/suspension hasn't been touched since finding the control arm bolt to be loose. No clunks since. I even did a two day driving event and the steering rack performed flawlessly.

Cool. We ran our Exige on track with the titanQR as well as our Project Nirvana with good results. It is a great upgrade - especially when the stock fails.