When i turn my wheel all the way to the RIGHT then go straight, it will pull to the RIGHT
When i turn my wheel all the way to the LEFT then go straight, it will pull to the LEFT (not even all the way for both, just little more then 3/4 the way)
There is some slight clunking when i turn, only happens sometimes, kind of like a popping clunk like something got caught on something and broke free (NOT axle sound, and doesn't happen every time i turn the wheel)
Every once in a while i can play with the wheel when the car isn't moving and i can get it to steer perfect straight, but one hard turn and its back.
'Ive made a post like this before thinking i had a spring problem because my spring was touching the inner body wall behind the spring-FIXED it so cant be that
Just got an alignment 3 days ago at school for free and we had 2 teachers and even myself look around for anything touching or anything looking wrong and found nothing, although we didn't check the steering rack which we probably should have but we were out of time for that day.
Someone i work with told me check the metering valve by following the high pressure line on the power steering but im pretty sure metering valve is for brake system lol
Tie rods and ball joints are all tight, everything in my front end is tight, i was grabbing everything in sight and checking it, no bad wheel bearing, axles are ok, tire pressure and tires are good, wheels are on tight....idk what else to check
If anyone has any ideas it would be greatly appreciated, if anyone can tell me how to check the steering rack and what to look for since im not familiar with steering systems too much, im not completely oblivious just need a little guidance for it....thanks in advance
Id be looking at strut mounts if i were you. I had the same problem when i first bought my cav. I had a clunking noise and it was the mount turning the spring and the clunk was the spring reseting itself in place. But hitting bumps and hard steering made it pull to the right.
Like the man said, could be the upper strut bearings. Does it make the sound WHILE turning or after you have turned? A lot of vehicles are prone to an issue like this, I dont know anyone with a cav and sunfire that hasnt had that issue similar. they just have a noisy suspension.
if you change the bearings out yourself you may need an alignment afterward.
I can get an alignment for free at school, but i dont really know much about strut bearings lol at school we pulled the whole strut/spring assembly to check it out when my spring was messed up and he said nothing looked bad....and yes it is while im turning the noise is there. also maybe this is the same problem, it's kind of the same sound, you know when you ride in 1st gear and let out the gas, the car kind of bucks back and forth, when mine bucks it clunks somewhere in the front end. how would i check strut bearings?
my 97 sunfire had a recall on the pinion bearing and rack.
replaced the whole thing free 2 weeks ago. call your dealer :-)
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2001 Chevy Blazer
4.3L 5 speed manual
Alpine deck, Type R 12in. sub.
145k miles
1997 Pontiac Sunfire
2.2L automatic trans
146k miles
It sounds like ur rsck is bad. also i would replace the strut bearings just beacause. there cheap enough and take 30 mins with a impact gun to replace, just make sure you compfess the springs. I just installed thatowering kit on my car with new mounts and it made a whole world of diffrence. Since its kinda sticking like u said from left to right, the rack itself sounds like the worm gear is just worn out. Like the guy above said he had a reacall, idk if its true or not but worth looking into, but if not the whole thing should not cost more then a couple hundred in parts, if that. good luck.
