Q: Is it common to have such play in steering rack?

asked by on October 12, 2016

I have been facing knock sound issue from car front, ever since i replaced my steering rack 4 months ago.

After lot of failed attempts to find issue with suspension components (suspension all ok), today i asked my mechanic to focus on rack and send me video recording if anything abnormal observed. He sent me following video of left side if steering rack- please check this youtube url:

https://youtu.be/NdDkYr8oUho

You can hear noise in this video, and on close video inspection you will also notice play in rack rod. This is aftermarket new rack replaced 4-5 months ago. My mechanic says i have been cheated and this is re-built old rack and is having some play in rack rod.

Is it common to have such play in rack rod? Or this is abnormal?
My car has a manual transmission.

Hello. It is common to have very little play in the rack, but it should not be much. If there is some noise coming from the rack, then it needs to be replaced. The rack you have was more than likely a rebuild as it is not common to get brand new ones anywhere but the dealer and they are very expensive. I would definitely take is back out and have it warrantied at the place you purchased it from. If you would like to to have this taken care of by someone else, a qualified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the suspension and steering and advise on repairs.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Gear shifter stuck.
I have seen this before. Dodge has a safety device that keeps the shifter from being moved into lets say "Drive" if the brakes are not applied. If this electronic lock fails, the shifter will not be released and will...
Transmission won't shift gears
Hi there, thanks for writing in. There are multiple causes of an automatic transmission that won't shift properly. Failed shift solenoids can cause this condition, but unless the problem was properly diagnosed, it's possible that it was a guess. It...
The plastic parts inside of the the car make noise when I drive the car over rough roads.
A quieter ride can be accomplished a few different ways. Most beneficial to you is going to be making the vehicle ride smoother. The plastic creaking sounds are coming from bumps and engine vibrations. Engine vibrations are typically minimal with...
Low oil pressure light stop engine
This light will usually come on when one of two things are happening. Either the motor is in fact low on oil or the oil pressure sending unit (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/oil-pressure-sensor-replacement) is not working properly and may be producing a faulty reading....
I have a Peugeot 206 keep going into limp mode
Hello. Thank you for writing in. If the catalytic converter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/catalytic-converter-replacement) has failed then this was absolutely cause the engine to enter into limp mode. The engine cannot breathe so to speak, and it pushes what they call "back pressure"...
Lug nuts coming loose
I would certainly be concerned about the lug nuts falling off originally. However, I would not worry about the cap that had fallen off recently if the nut is still tight. Many times manufacturers will apply these chrome caps to...
How long can you drive with a malfunction.indicator light on
Hi there. In most cases, when a error code is triggered, it indicates that there is an issue that should be inspected or repaired as soon as possible. Depending on the error code, your issue could be due to a...
Two lights came on today at the same time: check emission system and check VSA system
The check emissions system may be related to many different things such as a problem with an oxygen sensor not reading the exhaust gases properly, a problem with the evaporative emissions system or potentially bad gas cap. The best option...
My car starts to shake when its idling and when I give it gas and the check engine light goes on and off, car acts like it wants t
Hi Theresa. Thanks for contacting us today. There are a few possible reasons why your Cobalt is having these issues. Typically the vibration and shake is caused by either a vacuum leak, engine misfire or even loose engine mounts. I...

Related articles

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing PCV Valve Hose
Common signs include poor fuel economy, the Check Engine Light coming on, engine misfires while idling, and noise from the engine.
How Long Does a Flex Coupling Steering Damper Last?
There There are a number of different components used in your vehicle to help control the amount of vibration you and your passengers feel as you're driving. One of those is the flex coupling-steering damper. Specifically this part tones down...
What Does the Steering Lock Warning Light Mean?
The steering lock indicator light means your steering wheel is locked and can not be moved, usually until the vehicle's keys are present.