Steering feels like it has a bad spot in it when you turn

TRASHMAN150

MEMBER
2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
3.4L
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
200,000 MILES

When you turn the steering wheel it gets hard and then easy and then hard and easy, almost like it has a flat spot on the pinion gear of the rack. I also removed the u joint from the steering column and as I turn the tire by hand I can feel it just not as bad, as you turn the steering wheel with it unhooked it turns freely. Do I have a bad rack and pinion assembly?

1 Reply

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

Good morning,

You have a steering shaft from the wheel to the rack. there are universal joints in that shaft that fail and get tight and they give you this issue.

Rockauto has the part complete.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/chevrolet,2005,equinox,3.4l+v6,1430631,steering,steering+shaft,11373

Roy

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