I left the locking nut loose on the steering rack (prob. 8 years ago). I had the front up in the air to grease joints and do a general inspection. Grabbed tires at 9 and 3 o’clock to check for play. TONS of play/clunking, assumed inner/outer tie rods. Current ones are from R.D. but our shop closed in 2010 so they’re at least 8-9 years old. Before getting someone to help confirm, I ordered replacements.
Today a friend helped me double check. All the movement was in the rack and there was a LOT of it! Went to check the preload and found the lock nut loose. It took almost 3 1/2 full turns to seat the adjustment nut (and of course I backed it off about 1/4 turn). I couldn’t believe I had done that. I remember loosening it years ago to make an adjustment. Obviously didn’t tighten the lock. Sigh, steering is solid now.
Spoon
APR 20, 09:59 PM
Lesson learned. Always double check suspension, Brake and steering repairs. Years ago a car dealership did a brake job on a friend of a co-worker's car and left the master cylinder cap off by mistake. Some time later she went for brakes and had none and ran under the back of a truck causing her death.
Ever since hearing that story I always lay the master cylinder cover above the driver side wiper blade. That way I'll see it before driving off.
Spoon
------------------ "Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut
cvxjet
APR 20, 10:12 PM
When I do major work on the car (Engine/Trany/suspension/door replacement) I actually write a check-list for re-assembly....and sometimes I even read it!!!
