Slop in steering?

[rsm688]

Okay guys well I have some slackslop/play in my steering. I can turn the wheel about an inch in either direction before it starts moving the tires. I have a brand new front suspension/tires/outer tie rod ends/intermediate steering shaft as well as an aftermarket steering rack mount bracket and new rack bushings on the driver side as well. So I can instantly narrow it down to the steering rack, inner tie rod ends (which felt a little loose) or upper steering shaft (unlikely). I have an 06 H3 with 97k miles that I bought with some worn out 35s on it.


Inner tie rods are gonna be around $70, I can get a Detroit axle rebuilt rack with new inner tie rods and lifetime warranty for around $200 shipped, I would probably go with the 16mm replacement so I would have to buy some new outer tie rod ends as well so around $275 total plus alignment.It's obviously more of a PITA to replace the rack but that's what I am leaning towards. I have no separation in my rack that I can see and it's not leaking any.


Any thoughts/suggestions?

Also, if I go with a new rack and go with the 16mm one, is it the 2007-2010 models that use the 16mm tie rod ends? I saw MOOG has two outers, one for the 2006 (ES800763) and one for the 2007-2010 (ES800762) so I am guessing they are the 16mm ones?


Thanks,
Spencer

 

[Hunner]

Unless you are buying a reman, which I personally would not, most likely it would come with 16mm tie rods. Make sure it states that it does.
From what you are saying it could be the inner seals by-passing fluid.

By now I would not think there are any with 14 mm around.

Have you removed the fluid res cap and jacked up both wheels and slowly turned lock to lock several times?

If there is air in the system that could be doing it. Which could mean bad seals.

Here are some sources but YOU need to check it out first.
http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByDepartment/Steering_Rack/HUMMER/H3

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Factory-OEM...3363&pid=100011&prg=1005&rk=1&#ht_3233wt_1195

 

[4speedfunk]

rsm...Would you be interested in selling your old intermediate shaft? I need one for mock-up purposes.

 

[rsm688]

4 speed funk, sure would. Shoot me a pm and we can figure out details. It's actually in perfect shape, I replaced it due to seeing all the threads about them making popping noises. I thought I had a popping noise from mine, replaced it with the brand new one and realized it was something else making that noise.

 

[rsm688]

Thanks a ton Hunner, I actually just had the rack off and did remove the res cap and did the wheel left and right 30 times or so but maybe there is still some air in there. I did not really notice the slop in the steering before so maybe it's just some air still trapped in there. Ill jack it up tomorrow and turn it back and forth 100 times or so with the cap off and see if it helps any.

So you think a reman with a lifetime warranty is a bad idea? That ebay link you posted is $350 with outer tie rods too so it's only about $75 more than a reman plus new Moog outer TRE's

Unless you are buying a reman, which I personally would not, most likely it would come with 16mm tie rods. Make sure it states that it does.
From what you are saying it could be the inner seals by-passing fluid.

By now I would not think there are any with 14 mm around.

Have you removed the fluid res cap and jacked up both wheels and slowly turned lock to lock several times?

If there is air in the system that could be doing it. Which could mean bad seals.

Here are some sources but YOU need to check it out first.
http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByDepartment/Steering_Rack/HUMMER/H3

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Factory-OEM-New-2006-2010-Hummer-H3-Rack-and-Pinion-Outer-Tie-Rods-/130744852757?_trksid=p4340.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222001%26algo%3DSIC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D1439065373612893363%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D1%26#ht_3233wt_1195

 

[4speedfunk]

You need to use a vacuum pump on the rack....it gets ALL the air out. I tried this last year and was so impressed that I now make it part of the procedure. PM coming.

 

[Hunner]

Yea the pump would be great or very slooowly turn the wheel.

Only thing about a reman to me is if it is like honing old brake cylinders, I don't know, but then you would have to have oversize seals?? I guess if they warranty it could be a way to go in the future, unless your a hoarder like me!

Might be ok, but for the amount of work involved for me I went with new.

There was a place in Canada that had pallets of them. I was trying to find that. Several of us bought those and had no trouble.
I guess they bought out GM's stock?

 

[chaos254]

4 speed funk, sure would. Shoot me a pm and we can figure out details. It's actually in perfect shape, I replaced it due to seeing all the threads about them making popping noises. I thought I had a popping noise from mine, replaced it with the brand new one and realized it was something else making that noise.

How hard was it to replace? Mine just started making noise

 

[rsm688]

Thanks guys, I will swing by my mechanic after work and have them use their vaccuum pump to bleed it. Or does auto zone happen to keep them in the store (if they are reasonably priced)?


Chaos, it's super easy. Two bolts and 10 minutes to swap