Guess the Outback issue

[clyde]

Originally Posted by clyde

[*]Outback has steering issues, so had to turn around a few miles out to swap into FoST. It can transport 4people, a tiny dog, and all their stuff 350 miles for a holiday weekend, but I wouldn’t recommend it

So, those steering issues...

Anyone want to internet diagnose?

Lots of on center slop. Have to move the wheel probably 2-2.5 times as much as before the car starts moving. When it does start turning, the amount of initial response is inconsistent. Once fully into the turn, it’s mostly normal.

In gentle turns to the right at freeway speeds, the steering almost feels stepped. Like a sequence of very subtle detents.

Similar turns to the left, or nearly-abrupt lane changes to the left under power (think merging onto freeway and quickly moving another lane or two left) initiate a significant vibration from left front.

At freeway cruise, steering is not confidence inspiring. At suburban side street speeds, it feels icky to me, but not necessarily “unsafe.”

My wife felt the vibration after I pointed it out. She doesn’t feel anything else.

I never would have called the front suspension quiet, but it be noisier now. Or I’m just hearing it louder because of the other issues.

Dropping at shop tonight. Any guesses what may be going on?

[bren]

Rack.

[rumatt]

Originally Posted by bren

Rack.

Gotta be, right?

[bren]

Given the symptoms, and Google searching for outback steering rack failure returns enough hits that it certainly seems likely.

[Plaz]

That blows.

[clyde]

I was wanting it to be tie rods, but rack sounds like a consensus. Guess I’ll find out tomorrow.

Used racks look they go for about $120. New Fromm Subaru, $700. Wonder how much...

[kognito]

Originally Posted by clyde

I was wanting it to be tie rods, but rack sounds like a consensus. Guess I’ll find out tomorrow.

Used racks look they go for about $120. New Fromm Subaru, $700. Wonder how much...

Nothing personal Clyde, but I have never understood the "market" for used racks. I mean, you already have a used rack, why replace it with another used rack. Makes less sense than jumbo shrimp, but I guess that is another rant

[clyde]

Originally Posted by bren

Interesting. That would explain the vibration. Not sure about notchy feel though. The little detail of the preceding curb "incident" may have been helpful in the random internet diagnostic.

Driver side tie rod, driver side control arm, passenger side curb jump.

I also wonder if the stepped feeling (“notchy” is too strong a word) has always been there and I didn’t notice before.

Originally Posted by kognito

Nothing personal Clyde, but I have never understood the "market" for used racks. I mean, you already have a used rack, why replace it with another used rack. Makes less sense than jumbo shrimp, but I guess that is another rant

Maybe you’re making a joke I’m missing, but if serious...

Replace broken or worn out part with not-broken, not-worn out part for less money than replacing with a brand new part.

[kognito]

Originally Posted by clyde

Maybe you’re making a joke I’m missing, but if serious...

Replace broken or worn out part with not-broken, not-worn out part for less money than replacing with a brand new part.

No, I really wasn't joking. Heck I too have gone to junk yards to get (hard to find) parts for cars I have driven. But steering is a pretty important function of every vehicle, it is something I am not interested in saving a few buck on.

I'm sure my feelings about steering racks are swayed by the years I spent working in Dodge service. . .K cars were notorious for bad racks, and many of the failed racks we pulled looked perfect, and were collected by junk yards


Luckily, your rack wasn't the problem so let's not argue about, or have differences about money your not spending . . .everything is awesome

[bren]

Did you look at the steering shaft at all? I assume there's a universal and some sort of rubber. Did that look okay?