Steering rack and paint questions

["Janet Scruggs" <scruggs@mbay.net>]

I've never been happy with the steering feel and precision of my '87 5kCSq.
Eibach springs, Koni struts, upper strut mounts, rod ends, subframe
bushings, sway bar end and mounting bushings are all new.  Four wheel
alignment done three times in the past two years... yes, I really should
plan ahead and sequence my front end work accordingly.  There is a vagueness
and lack of directional stability in the steering that I think is not
characteristic of an otherwise thoroughly developed suspension and steering
system.  The rack doesn't leak or make noise and according to the PO's
service records was suppose to have been replaced at about 55Kmi... car now
has 93Kmi.  I say 'suppose to have been..' as I have come upon many examples
of shoddy work from a previous alleged mechanic.  I have tightened and then
loosened the adjusting screw in the rack with no change in the vagueness
problem.

Any ideas?  Has anyone replaced a rack and experienced a 'better' feel from
steering?

Second question:  My car is pearl white.  I recently took the rear bumper
and cover off to clean things up and to see how hard it would be to repaint
the cover as there are some scratches and chips out of the white section.
As I looked at the cover sitting upside down in the sunlight I could not
convince myself that I was seeing pearl white.  It looked like a non-pearl
white.  Weeks later I took off the front bumper and cover and believe that
it, too, was white... and not pearl white.

Anyone verify that the valence areas under the bumpers were painted plain
white... or pearl?  Additionally, has anyone repainted them pearl?  Can you
see the difference?

Regards, Gross Scruggs