ae82 steering/suspension problem
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 5:20 pm
I have a problem with my '87 fx16 front end. After about 30 minutes of driving I start to get a click and small kickback in the steering. It's noticeable at both low and high speeds. It's not evident when starting out with a cold car, but after said 30 minutes or so it's very noticeable. It shows up more quickly in town driving than in Interstate driving. When it becomes evident, and I stop the car, bouncing the front end produces a noticeable 'creak', which goes away after about 15 minutes of sitting. I can't reproduce the sound with a cold car. I can't reproduce any of the symptoms when driving in the rain. I pulled the steering column and checked the u-joints, and replaced one that was iffy, and got no improvement. I had an extra pair of front struts, not new, but different, and I swapped them out and got no change in symptoms. I've had the car on the rack and checked ball joints, inner and outer tie rod ends, control arm bushings and sway bar bushings. Everything checks out OK. I'm wondering now about cv joints. Anybody got a clue? I'd hate to have the front wheels disagree about the direction of travel. And yes, I have had WITNESSES to this crap- I'm not delusional, at least about this.
An additional observation- in 5th gear, on and off the throttle produces a noticeable (1/2") fore and aft movement in the shifter, which doesn't happen in the lower gears. Transmission and steering rack have about 250K on them.
jm
An additional observation- in 5th gear, on and off the throttle produces a noticeable (1/2") fore and aft movement in the shifter, which doesn't happen in the lower gears. Transmission and steering rack have about 250K on them.
jm