Steering issue

[Joe K. 99 Zeee!!]

I posted earlier about some slight wandering in the steering of my car. Fluid was a little low a couple months ago, so I topped it off. I don't think it had been touched since the car came out of the factory. That helped but the problem is still there. So I flushed the system, but that's not working either. I'm worried that I may have to start replacing parts.

Any ideas or previous experiences with an issue like this?

[Joe 1320]

What I've found is that once the front end starts to loosen up, your best bet is to replace all the wearable items in one shot. If you don't do it that way, expect the front end to nickel and dime you to death. Look for tie rod ends both inner and outer, upper and lower ball joints, upper and lower control arm bushings. Other items could be the factory rag joint that couples both halves of the steering shaft, the rack assembly mountings and the rack assembly itself. The only way to really get it as good as new is to rebuild the front end like you would rebuild an engine. All too many times because these parts are readily accesable, people want to replace only the weakest part. You wouldn't hone the cylinder walls in the engine without replacing the rings would you? Don't do it with the front end. Replacing the weakest part only will put addition stress on the other already worn parts, accelerating their wear.

And yes...... been there already.

[Joe K. 99 Zeee!!]

Ok, thanks. It's just surprising. The car only has 73k miles and isn't that old. I had to replace the rag joint on my '93, so I kow what it feels like when that is off. I don't think the rag joint is an issue at all. There is a little leakage around the boots on the steering rack, but I was told that's normal.