I've had this bad steering problem lately so I jacked the front of the car up in the air to see if there was any play in the wheels. The back wheels were fine, nice and stiff. Jacked up the front, and there is a ton of movement from side to side if you place your hands at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions. It goes clunk, clunk back and forth, moving both wheels and the rack as it does this (and the steering wheel). The wheel at 9 or 3 o'clock, moves about 1 inch from where it was, from clunk to clunk (I hope that makes sense?)

I'm guessing it's the rack,which is a whopping $258 plus tax from Autozone. I know Rodney sells a replacement bushing for the racks, could that solve the problem? Or might it be the tie rod(s)?

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1984 Fiero SE

Sounds more like your tie rod ends. Have someone move the wheel as you watch. You can get some noise out of the right side end bushing of the rack but it would not cause that much play in the wheel. So unless the rack has tons of play inside (which is unlikely) most likely and inner or outer tie rod joint. I have seen the outer rod end tapered stud be loose in the hub arm and make a lot of noise and movement.

First, make sure the steering wheel is locked. The get someone else to watch the rack in various places as you wiggle the road wheel at the 3 & 9 o'clock position. If there's any motion at the outer tie rod end relative to the knuckle, it's the outer tie rod end that's worn. If there's an in/out motion of the tie rod at the inner pivot point relative to the rack housing, it's the inner tie rod end that's worn out. If there's an up/down motion of the tie rod at the inner pivot point relative to the rack housing on the passenger side, it's the rack bushing that's worn. If the whole rack moves, it's possible that the rack mounting bolts have come loose, but if you're in a rust zone, it's also possible that the aluminum part of the rack under the rubber mounting bushings has corroded to the point where the rack is no longer held tight (seen it). If there's no relative movement at any of these points, then check your front wheel bearings for the proper preload.

quote Originally posted by Bloozberry: First, make sure the steering wheel is locked. The get someone else to watch the rack in various places as you wiggle the road wheel at the 3 & 9 o'clock position. If there's any motion at the outer tie rod end relative to the knuckle, it's the outer tie rod end that's worn. If there's an in/out motion of the tie rod at the inner pivot point relative to the rack housing, it's the inner tie rod end that's worn out. If there's an up/down motion of the tie rod at the inner pivot point relative to the rack housing on the passenger side, it's the rack bushing that's worn. If the whole rack moves, it's possible that the rack mounting bolts have come loose, but if you're in a rust zone, it's also possible that the aluminum part of the rack under the rubber mounting bushings has corroded to the point where the rack is no longer held tight (seen it). If there's no relative movement at any of these points, then check your front wheel bearings for the proper preload.

You forgot, what if you get up and down from the drivers side? As most bad racks I come across have up and down on the drivers side.
will this post work for that? http://www.fierojoe.com/ind...owto&go=details&id=3
I looked at the factory manual and don't see any bushing on the drivers side, except the preload one under the castle nut.

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"DRIVE IT LIKE A FIERO"
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another check you can do:
with the car on the ground, you should be able to reach under, from the front, and be able to grab the actual tie rod, and check for play.
if bad steering rack bushing, you will feel play on the passenger side tie rod, near the steering rack.
the other item in the steering system is the "pinion preload".

and - just for info: the steering rack from autozone comes with the bellows & inner tie-rods. it is actually quite a deal for the price. just 2 tie rod ends, and it is a completely fresh end to end steering assembly.