Can a steering rack make popping noises?

Topic: Can a steering rack make popping noises? (Read 1512 times) previous topic - next topic

Can a steering rack make popping noises?

June 07, 2007, 04:07:26 PM

My car is making an odd noise upfront and I'm thinking its the rack. It only happens when I'm turning the car. It doesn't happen often at all either.

Can a steering rack make popping noises?

Reply #1 – June 07, 2007, 04:51:09 PM

meh.. its hard to say. there could be some slack in the gears, but then you'd hear it allllll the time. you say its when you turn, so is it like a play in the steering where you turn and it pops from your input? i've never heard of your type problem due to a rack problem (maybe something i wasnt taught.) i've had mine pop and that was from bad brake pads. when they got worn they would pop or bounce back and forth. i wouldnt center my attention on the rack b/c its a fairly rare occurance and check the rag joints, check everything with eyes and a wrench (tq wrench if you got one and a tq spec sheet) and just see if there isnt something in the steering before and after the rack.

Can a steering rack make popping noises?

Reply #2 – June 07, 2007, 05:10:10 PM

If it was a Mark VIII (yes, I typed that right) I'd say ball joint... I'm not familiar enough with Fox suspension yet to know for sure that's what it is but on a Mark if the upper ball joints are bad they'll pop like that. Maybe I should just say something is worn enough to get loose and if it's related to the rack it's more likely a tie rod end...

Can a steering rack make popping noises?

Reply #3 – June 07, 2007, 05:13:33 PM

Yes it can. Well, it did on my new car. I had a popping noise only when I would turn the wheel to the right. It wasn't all the time and wasn't always noticeable. Mainly around long sweeping turns or a slow turn like pulling up to a gas pump as well as when I would slowly turn the wheel while sitting still. Dealer replaced the rack under warranty and it was gone.

I'm talking about an '05 Hyundai Tiburon but it I'm guessing it surely could be the problem on your car as well.

Ball joints would sound like an old rusty, squeaky bed.

Can a steering rack make popping noises?

Reply #4 – June 07, 2007, 05:15:28 PM

yeh im with doodaa, isnt the mark7 larger than a bird but have the same modified mcphearson? really doodaa beat me to it, when i said check the rag joint i was brain farting on the name "ball joint" but still check em out if your having steering probs it might be before the rack.

Can a steering rack make popping noises?

Reply #5 – June 07, 2007, 05:17:23 PM

Quote from: 5.0willgo;152520

Yes it can. Well, it did on my new car. I had a popping noise only when I would turn the wheel to the right. It wasn't all the time and wasn't always noticeable. Mainly around long sweeping turns or a slow turn like pulling up to a gas pump as well as when I would slowly turn the wheel while sitting still. Dealer replaced the rack under warranty and it was gone.

thats why i dont think its the rack, unless he's not hearing the quieter pops? did your's start quirt and get louder like a u joint goin bad? with him saying it happens rarely i feel its not the rack.

Can a steering rack make popping noises?

Reply #6 – June 07, 2007, 05:24:14 PM

I never had a bad u-joint so I can't really compare.

The rack was the only thing where I've experienced a popping noise. The tone was consistent and didn't get louder or quieter.

It started out by doing it once in a while but got worse and worse. It took a few attempts to get the dealer to do anything about it since they couldn't replicate the problem. It even took me a couple visits to get it to start popping again. I had the service manager right in front of me and the car wouldn't do it. Drove a few miles and it started again.

I'm not saying that the rack is or isn't the problem. I just know that a steering rack can make popping noises.

Can a steering rack make popping noises?

Reply #7 – June 07, 2007, 06:05:34 PM

yup sure can. ive replaced a couple for poppin noises. tough to isolate though, unless youve got a spare rack and some extra time...

Can a steering rack make popping noises?

Reply #8 – June 08, 2007, 04:02:54 AM

Quote from: 5.0willgo;152523

I never had a bad u-joint so I can't really compare.

just for your curiosity, its like brake warp that gets worse and worse when you give it gas. had the needle bearings disapear on a u joint and it started off as a minor vibration to a teeth chattering vibration. what i was getting as was, did it start off unoticable, a few pops and pings here and there and then alllllways popping loud and when the dealership gave you the run around got worse every right turn?

Can a steering rack make popping noises?

Reply #9 – June 08, 2007, 07:14:31 PM

explain popping,only when you make a right?

Can a steering rack make popping noises?

Reply #10 – June 08, 2007, 07:22:46 PM

It could very well be a worn inner tie rod...I've had a few come in for popping noises and they wouldn't make it while I test drove it...2 or 3 months later they'd come back, I'd finally hear it and after shaking down the front end I found a bad inner tie rod.