Celica Forums General Discussion General Steering Rack Noise

I have lately been experiencing a noise that seems to be coming from the steering rack. Took some time to determine the place where it was coming from. In fact I had even installed new struts and stabiliser links before I found out for sure that the noise was coming from the steering rack.The strange thing is that the noise is heard when driving over small potholes or minor road patchwork, but not on larger imperfections on the road surface. Recently I met a friend of mine who has got a car like mine who is also experiencing this noise coming from the rack. Could it be that this model had a glitch in the steering rack from the factory, and if so does anybody know if there were any modifications to solve this problem. Has anybody encountered this problem? Would gladly like to hear something about this. Please also note that the car has only got 40000 kilometres and is kept in excellent condition. All the suspension is 100% ok.

Recheck the sway bar links again I had a similar noise a month ago. As for the steering rack it would be leaking fluid before it started makin noises. Also check the motor cradle mounting bolts and the motor mounts.

Hi CID 498,

Thanks for your interest. I appreciate your help.

I have already changed the sway bar links and all the mountings are ok for sure because I have checked and re checked every bolt and all seems correctly tightened up. The noise is coming from or from near the two metal pipes that enter the steering rack and through which the automatic fluid flows into the steering rack.

Do you think that preloading the system will fix the problem?

Regards
Stephan

whoah, this guy practically has the same name as me...welcome to the boards bro remember, there's only enough Krystal for one of us

Lovely car you got man. Thanks for the welcome. I hail from Malta. don't know if you have ever heard of the place.

^^^
are you in Valetta?

HMMMMM... I need more info, The two pipes as you call them is actually one steering shaft. Have you tried turnin the wheel all the way to lock both ways and then checkin the rack fer play? Also have you had after market sway bars installed? Do you have a little play in the steering wheel?

Hi Sultan,

I don't live in Valletta but it is my country's capital city. You know the place ? Have you ever been here?

Hi Stephan,
It's me Mario the helping hand.hehehe.ThanksCID498 for trying to help us out with this prob, we really appresiate it.
I know something on Stephan's car cos i'm the helping hand on it.The sway away bars are new so we eliminated that out.The shocks are new so that one is eliminated too.All of the mountings are as new and it isn't a noise of a mounting too.it's more like a steering cross, but i took them out and checked them too.I tightened all the bolds you can imagine on the front.There is no play on the steering rack too.The noise can only bee heared when the suspention is loaded and a big clicking noise is heared in one of the two pipes mentioned by stephan.I brought another celika the same as Stephan's at my garage but this one was not lowered and it's exactly the same noise.Have you heared of factory deffect mabee the pipes or the steering rack itself.I think the problem is between the pinion and the rack.

It seems that our mystery noise is a factory deefect in the steering rack ,just as i tought at first.It's some kind of loose between the rack and the pinion.I'm going to try to preload the system.We had the chance to check another celica with the same suspantion but not lowered and it had the same problem.Stephen even asked another celica owner which told him that he has the same noise.We will inform you about the conclusions i will get from preloading the system when it's done.loll.Till then any info will be greatful.10x