"PowderHound" (PowderHound)
04/30/2015 at 13:29 • Filed to: Subaru, Wrx
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"PowderHound" (PowderHound)
04/30/2015 at 13:29 • Filed to: Subaru, Wrx | 0
| 8 |
I’m back with some new info on my steering debacle from yesterday, no internet at the house yet and being very close to going over my cell data plan makes things tough. I was able to get underneath the car and take a good look at everything (well, semi-good, I’m not exactly sure what I’m doing). Anyway, on to the new findings.
Clearly, this boot for the inner tie rod is ripped in half, as seen in the photo. I’m not sure if that could be the direct cause of my issues, but it needs to be replaced. Will I need to replace the whole inner tie rod since it has been exposed to who knows what for who knows how long? Seems to be a fairly easy fix and rather cheap depending on if I do it myself or take it to a shop.
The consensus seemed to be that, prior to looking under my car, that one of the steering U-joints had started to fail. This is still very possible, but I wasn’t entirely sure what to look for while I was under there. I had a roommate turn the wheel side to side and he could feel where it was grabbing but I couldn’t see any glaring issues at that point in the u-joint or anywhere else. It was making some squeaking noises but nothing seemed to be catching at all. This is a bit more expensive to fix and doesn’t look terrible to change as long as I can jack the car up a good ways since I don’t have a post lift (Oh how I wish!).
Now is where I’m at the crossroads of what is actually causing this and is it worth it for me to replace all of that with the chance of things still not working or take it to a shop, which I haven’t done in ages.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> PowderHound
04/30/2015 at 13:45 |
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Tie rod ends failing generally don’t cause acting up of a stiffness kind. If, however, a boot on a rack fails, it can allow moisture into the rack itself and cause issues there. Dead boots regardless are a “really ought to fix this” item because it can go from open and greasy to open and dry to open and *falling apart* in a relative flash.
There’s not a whole lot to look at for a failing or dry U-joint - the extent at which it binds up or doesn’t is all internal and a question of needle bearings grabbing on one another and the like or looseness allowing enough slop to bind up. If it was squeaking, there’s definitely a problem there.
Nibbles
> PowderHound
04/30/2015 at 13:45 |
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You’ll probably want to research repairing/replacing the steering rack. The seal is likely shot and no amount of boot replacements are going to keep it from continuing to degrade.
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PowderHound
> Nibbles
04/30/2015 at 13:54 |
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Shitty, although I could upgrade to a quicker ratio STi rack possibly…
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PowderHound
> RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
04/30/2015 at 13:57 |
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With what you and Nibmoe are saying, it sounds like there is a good chance my entire steering rack could be close to done for.
Alfalfa Romeo
> PowderHound
04/30/2015 at 14:07 |
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If you do decide to take it to a shop, I know a great place if you’re willing to flee the mountains to my neck of the woods.
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PowderHound
> Alfalfa Romeo
04/30/2015 at 14:27 |
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Everything is much better priced down there, that’s for sure. As well as some specialty shops. In a aftermarket Subaru sense, I have heard from NASIOC that Solid Autoworks and Ziptie are good places to go to. What place do you have in mind?
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Alfalfa Romeo
> PowderHound
04/30/2015 at 14:35 |
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I think I’ve heard people talk about Solid. The place I go to when I can’t do it myself is called Action Auto. It’s a 3-4 man operation in Murray, the guy who usually runs the desk looks like Chuck Norris.
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PowderHound
> Alfalfa Romeo
04/30/2015 at 14:46 |
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Sounds amazing. I will put that on my list of spots