Fluid Replacement or Rack and Pinion Replacement?

[L.Michael]

Usually at a stop, when I crank the wheel, there is a crunching/bunching noise. I first thought it would be an exterior issue, perhaps something in the way, but visual inspection shows everything in order.
I'm guessing either the fluid is past its prime, or the whole rack needs to be replaced.

Thoughts?

[Dead91silvia]

Umm... You need to give us video... It could be a number of things... bad pump, bad rack, low on fluid, bad tie rod ends...

[L.Michael]

http://s1066.beta.photobucket.com/user/LMHradecki/media/IMG_0884_zpsc5fdfdda.mp4.html

This badly doesn't happen a lot.

[98legwag]

Interested in responses. My car does the same, just not as bad. I have replaced both inner and outer tie rods in the last year.

[ScaryFatKidGT]

Interested in responses. My car does the same, just not as bad. I have replaced both inner and outer tie rods in the last year.? is it coming from like down in the engine? It just sounds like the steering wheel rubbing on the column or something to me. Check the U-joint?

[98legwag]

Its coming from the rack itself on my car. I had a friend help me figure that part out. We checked the U-joint.

[L.Michael]

I took my baby in to Midas to have them look over and diagnose, as I am also experiencing a steering twitch as well. The guy was confident that a fluid replacement should correct it, or at least show the next door to the solution. Can you not just drain and refill? He was saying it had to be done by a machine, much like an ATF replacement machine.

The twitching is said to be from the control arm bushings being loose; in dire needs of replacement. And apparently I also got a broken rear control arm link.

[98legacygt22]

I've never had to use a machine when swapping steering racks.. They are just trying to get you to spend money there. I have to swap out the rack in my GT I think.. it seems to have some slop in the steering and it's not the tie rods although those will get replaced when the rack does.

[Huffer]

Replace your fluid. It's cheaper and less intensive than a whole steering rack replacement. If that doesn't solve the problem, replace the rack (and if you have the dimes, throw in a quicker ratio one).

[Dead91silvia]

Might be the pump also... Racks dont go bad that often...

[Huffer]

+1 forgot about the pump!