Steering problem
1992 Pontiac Grand Prix 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 180000 miles
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My car has been leaking steering fluid for a month now so i brought in to mechanic who told me that the steering rack is needing to be replaced. Im going to do so in a couple of days but in the meantime i am getting a tapping and grinding noise sometimes when turning left. Is this a new problem or could it because of the failing steering rack?

Bad racks can get noisy, and so can PS pumps running low on fluid...

To be more specific the noise is not a squelling noise as when the pump gets low on fluid. More of a tapping and grinding noise. Even after a top up of fluid i get this noise.

Only happens if the wheel is turned? Or does it do it in park?

Dosent happen when car is parked only while moving. Cant narrow it down alot either then when turning left. It can be turning left while slowly backing out of the driveway or making turns out on the highway. It doest happen at every left turn only time to time but are becoming more frequent as the days go on.

Turn the wheel all the way to the left, then have a look at the axle where it goes into the hub, it the rubber boot around it torn open? If yes, what you hear is the cv joint on that side, when it looses enough grease it will click when turning. If this is your problem don't wait long to fix it, you don't have much time before the cage shatters, when that happens the car will not move!

Alright i checked the boot on both the CV joints no tears or cracks that could be seen or felt.

Jack the front end off the ground, put your hands on a tire at 3 and 9 oclock, and shake. Any movement? These noises can be loose inner or outer tie rod ends, if you buy a complete rack, they come with it! A shor rack has no outer tie rods.

I will let you know the diagonoses later today the car is at the garage right now. Im pretty sure the rack was bad due to the vast amount of steering fluid lost just crossing my fingers now thats all thats wrong.

2 bad lower front ball joints. Diagnoses of the garage. But another question on the same topic about the steering rack should i replace the whole rack or just get a boot kit put on. There is minimal leakage but you can see the boot is broken.