Don't replace that rack!

[treilley_at_bankmark@conseco.com (treilley)]

     I have spent the last month trying to figure out why my front end is 
     clunking when I turn the wheel.  I replaced the strut bearings to no 
     avail.  I checked outer tie rod ends, ball joints, power steering 
     pump.  All I could determine was that it must be in the rack but the 
     problem with that diagnoses was that the clunk was not consistent.  
     IOW the clunk did not happen at the same point in the turning of the 
     wheel.  So instead of buying a new rack($$$$) and spending hours and 
     lots of skinned knuckles, I went back to searching.
     
     I finally narrowed it down to the inner bushing on the pas side tie 
     rod where it connects to the rack.  I could feel the rack moving at 
     dif rates than the tie rod.  So I bought a tie rod assembly($100.00).  
     When I went to loosen the nut where the tie rod attaches to the rack I 
     found that the nut was loose.  That was it!  1 loose nut has been 
     driving me crazy for a month.  
     
     There must be a moral here somewhere!
     
     Tim 90CQ, 77Spitfire