As I sit here in the parking lot waiting for the tow truck I am thankful that this didn't happen while I was going 60. I was stopped at a gas station and went to take off and I felt a thud in my steering wheel and it is now slipping. If I turn it it will turn the wheels but it seems with very much pressure it will slip . Any ideas.. Grrrrrrrrrr
Check the front suspension and steering rack. I'm not quite sure what you mean. If you could be more descriptive it would help. It sounds like either something with your rack, or a tie rod or balljoint snapped.
Possible it could be a stripped steering knuckle joint I think they call them. The part that actually attaches to the steering box shaft that comes out of the steering box or a stripped steer box or rack. Many things involved that could cause it but look at the first suggestion while someone else is turning the steering wheel.
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.
[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 10-21-2014).]
I had a few minutes to sit in it and it appears as it turns that about the same point about a half turn it makes like a banging sound and slips. The tires do turn and when they are fully turned the wheel does stop and I have put some strength into it to see if I can force it to move but it stops like it should. When I start to turn it back the other way it starts doing it again. I know nothing about steering.
I had a few minutes to sit in it and it appears as it turns that about the same point about a half turn it makes like a banging sound and slips. The tires do turn and when they are fully turned the wheel does stop and I have put some strength into it to see if I can force it to move but it stops like it should. When I start to turn it back the other way it starts doing it again. I know nothing about steering.
First I would do as I said above and get a helper to ether watch or turn the wheel while you watch, at least go that far your eyes work and you can se if something is moving or not.
Then I would pickup a repair manual, even just a Chilton's would be of some help to you and cheap enough $20 I think not the best but does give you the basics and is for all 4 years our Fiero's are made in one book. or there is always the Fiero factory service manual but much more expensive around $100 I think it is now but someone here I think has it on digital and available for us when we ask. You need some basic info and pictures, or you could look here,
OK I have looked underneath the car and I don't see anything really obvious. I have made a video of it you can watch on the link below. You can hear the sounds that it makes when it slips. What it looks like from underneath is that the pressure put on the tires is all of a sudden released and they kind of jump a little after it makes the sound. I am absolutely sure that when someone who knows about steering sees the video they will know exactly what it is.
I just had this problem. what happened to mine was the boot at the steering rack slipped off allowing water into the rack at the pinion gear which rotted the pinion bearing. I ended up buying a rebuilt rack and just replacing it. I took the old one apart to see what it involved and I think if you can get the parts it's not too bad of a job to rebuild it.
It seems that is probably what the problem is, where do I get a rebuilt rack for it so that I know what kind of $$$$ I am looking at? Also are there any instruction on this site on how to do it, I don't see any but then I am new here and not really good at the search function. TIA - Travis
[This message has been edited by ninjayogi (edited 10-26-2014).]
Ok, now I understand what you meant. I had a similar problem. I had to replace the transcooler lines, routed them, and then hit a bump and all the sudden it was hard to turn right, and then when it would it would just POP and turn easily. It was a pain trying to bend those lines around the steering rack following the stock routing, and what happened was a line was interfering with the steering. Just bent it more and haven't had that problem.
From the sound of it looks like the problem might be coming from in here. I am assuming that this is the linkage. How do I get this boot off, do I just cut it off, and what do I need to look for once I do? Thanks for all of your help.
[This message has been edited by ninjayogi (edited 11-08-2014).]
The boot just stretches over the... should be a hard plastic sleeve about 2-3 inches long. That sleeve is a force fit over the rack where the pinion shaft goes in.
Sounds to me like the pinion gear (gear on the end of the steering shaft) is broken or stripped. That, or the bearing that supports it.
There is a preload adjustment on the top of the rack, but I think it's going to take more than that.
Remove the spare tire tub for easy access to the rack. To get the tub out you'll have to remove the two rubber drain hoses that are screwed into the back corners of the tub. If your car has a sunroof, there will also be two tabs sticking out from the front of the compartment that must be unbolted. Not a big deal... I just forget every time.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 11-09-2014).]
I took out the tub, which is awesome because you can get to everything. It looks like there are only four bolts holding in the rack other than the tie rods. So I just have to remove those bolts, disconnect the rods, and I can just pull it out right? The boot still confuses me because it is not mentioned in the manual, Do I just pry it off the white plastic sleeve or do I pry the sleeve up?
It was the rack, I replaced it and it works better than ever now. Its a totally different drive. That pinch bolt is a PIA!!!! Thank you for all of your help on this.
