BrettC.

I have an '04 RX8, and I've been having this gnarly clunk/binding that you can only really feel in my steering wheel, when I turn left. I'm pretty stumped on what is causing it. I've been reading from a lot of people, that if your connections get weak, then it can cause your steering to get "choppy"? I've also heard that it could be my tie rod. I picked up a steering control module to test out last night, and am about to put it in to see if that fixes my issue. I haven't paid for it yet, but if it works, I'll definitely be purchasing it. Another added note is that on my way to work the other day, my power steering went out, so I pulled in and got some gas, started my car back up, and it was fine, minus the usual clunking/binding issue. Does anyone have any ideas of what this could be? It's super stressful and semi dangerous. Thanks!!

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Can you describe how/when it occurs and what it feels like a bit better?

For example, does "when turning left", mean "when rotating the wheel left" or "when the car is turning to the left with the wheel held straight"? Or both?


Currently the list of possibilities is quite long (rack, u-joint, tie rod, PS module, connector harness, wheel, end link, sway bar, control arm, bushings, wheel hub bearing, etc... you get the idea)

BrettC.

Yeah man I get what you're saying. It's only when I turn my wheel left, as in taking a left turn. Especially at low speeds. If I'm pulling into a parking spot, or making a sharp left turn its real rough. Cruising at reasonable speeds of 40+ it doesn't really do much at all.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

What I'm trying to get to is: Is the noise/grinding/binding/ attributed to the steering wheel motion or the vehicle motion?

If it's the steering wheel motion, it should do it at any speed, including stopped. If it's the car motion, then it should do it if you hold it in a constant radius left turn where the steering wheel remains in one orientation.

BrettC.

I know my wheel bearings are fine, and everything connecting down there feels fine as well. I just replaced my front brake pads like last week, and checked most of the stuff down there when I had it off. Nothing was loose. It also won't make the clunking at stand still when the car isn't running. If I only have power to it, it doesn't seem to want to make the binding/clunking noise that you both hear and feel.

BrettC.

Well wouldn't the steering wheel motion go along with the cars turning motion? Haha. I mean you turn you steering wheel to the left, and your car turns left. Like all of my functions are still proper and it's not doing anything crazy. It just wants to grind/bind up when I'm making left turns at a reasonably slow speed.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

I'm seriously facepalming here

Stop connecting the events together. Sure, they work together to produce a desired result, but they are independant motions, and I'm trying to get down to WHICH motion of WHICH part is causing the noise/feeling.


I can put any car into a constant radius turn in a parking lot and go in circles all day long without the steering wheel (tie rods, steering rack, u-joints, etc...) moving at all. They could get welded in place and the car could keep doing circles until it runs out of gas. If your noise still happens here, then it's something having to to with the brakes, hub, wheel, bodywork, etc...

However, if the noise does not occur if you do this, and it's only happening when the steering wheel itself is rotating (REGARDLESS OF wheel angle), then it's not the above list, and is something to do with the steering shaft, tie rods, rack, or bits that those parts use.

You state that it doesn't happen with the car off while you sit there, but it does with the car on when you sit there?

BrettC.

Haha sorry man, I understand what you're saying now. If the wheel remains at a constant, no, it doesn't make that noise. It only happens if I move the wheel towards the left. And yeah, when the car was off, with only juice from the battery flowing through the car, it didn't seem to want to do it. I started my car, and backed out of the garage, and it instantly started doing it when I turned the steering wheel. I have a PS Module with me I'm about to try and throw in to see if that does any justice. I was going to have my car scanned as well beings it threw a power steering code randomly the other day, then went back off. Beings that power steering code came up, makes me think its electronic and not a tie rod, or something mechanical if you know what I mean.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Ok, so yes, entirely steering related.

The PS control module probably isn't the issue, but since you have one extra you can use to test, certainly go for it to either rule that out or solve the problem entirely.

Given your PS code the other day, i would also recommend cleaning the PS connectors. Since your purchase of the control module depends on it being the problem, don't clean the connectors until you have ruled the module in or out. (Don't want to have you clean them, THAT fix your problem, but because you changed the module, you think it's the module, and pay for it). One fix at a time.

After ruling out the PS module, and then the connectors, if it's still doing it, grab a can of WD-40 and locate the lower steering shaft u-joint. It's just forward of the spark plugs, just inside of the main support in the driver's side wheel well. Pull out the air box and you can look straight down on it, though that is hardly needed. Just turn the wheel completely to the right, then reach in there and hose down the lower u-joint liberally. Then rotate the wheel from lock to lock back and forth a few times. See if it's still doing it. If THIS fixes the problem, then it's only a temporary fix, and th elower u-joint is binding and needs to be replaced. It's a ~1-4hr job (depending on skill and assistance) for $50 (the joint itself) for you to do, $600+ for a dealer to do it. But the WD-40 will keep you in the clear for the short term if you keep reapplying it.

If it's none of the above, it's likely going to mean that it's your steering rack, and that's not fun or cheap.

BrettC.

Alright man, I'll definitely give that a try this evening. I'll be getting my car scanned in a bit to see if that throws me a bone. I'm replacing my air filter anyhow today, so I'll rip that out and try the WD-40 trick. Definitely appreciate the info, and I'll post later on today how it all went. Thanks a ton man. I haven't been getting any decent information here lately.

04Green

iTrader: (1)

Just saw this... Have you made any modifications? Did you touch the end links or sway bars when you did the breaks?

BrettC.

Nope, car is bone stock. Replaced with OEM pads, and haven't changed anything to aftermarket at all.

BrettC.

So I tried the replacement module and it did nothing. I hooked up my existing module and now my DSC isn't working. This is becoming rather stressful.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

That's probably just lost the data. Turn the car on, turn the steering wheel all the way right then all the way left. (or vise versa) it should self-clear. If you still have the traction control light on, then just drive down the block, shut the car off, then turn it back on, and it will be gone.

Next steps are to check the connector and then the u-joint. Do each individually, check the steering between each. If it's the u-joint you need to know that it's that so you don't chalk it up to the connector if it isn't.

BrettC.

I'll give the steering thing a try here in a bit then. I looked at that u joint you mentioned and sprayed it down. It seemed fine though. My next guess would be checking connectors. I may be taking it to a garage tomorrow because I'm getting stumped. All the connectors I've looked at seemed exceptionally clean as well.

BrettC.

The DSC came back on and works properly. My power steering went out and the clunking is gone.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

So, with no power steering, you don't have the clunking?

That sounds like it's a failed/failing steering rack. Ouch. You don't happen to have $2,000 sitting around unused I'm guessing. Hunt junkyards for a used one.

BrettC.

Yeah man I hope that's not whats wrong I certainly don't have that money on hand. On the plus side my mom works at a salvage yard

Spencer Clowry

Any chance you figured out what it was? Having the same problem and I'm in the middle of checking the u-joint. Hoping it isnt the rack.