Steering 1990 corolla

[TimmyB]

So I am driving a really old corolla at present. Bought it cheap as a little run around. Low and behold, two m onths later I am having problems.

Something odd is going on with the steering. The wheel has to be turned a reasonable amount before the car begins to respond. After a turn, the wheel does not return to neutral. When turning the wheel to the right, be it correcting after a left turn or commencing a right hand turn, the wheel tends to get stuck. It almost feels liike something is grinding. The wheel has to be wrenched with a fair bit of force to get past this. It also makes a fair bit of mechanical noise, almost like a spring 'boinging'. The problems are significantly more noticable when the car is moving slowly - particularly reverse parking and three point turns, when it is almost unbearbable and feels like I'm doing further damage to the steering.

Anyone have any ideas as to what the problem might be? And the associaated costs? Obiviously I'll get it checked out, but just trying to get a ballpark - I'm fearful it's the steering rack, so if anyone can dispel these fears, or even raise a small possibility that it's not, that'd be great.

And yes, I know it's a shit car.

 

[Cupid Stunt]

'boinging'

You didn't buy it off this guy by any chance did you?

 

[ozbash]

get it seen to, before you wipe yourself out (or some other poor bugger).

sounds like a loose steering box...

 

[Willow]

Could be a bent steering rod. But get it seen to.

Failing that, you should get a few bucks for it from a wreckers. They'll even come around with a towie and take it away.

 

[TimmyB]

That afternoon I was taking it down to the mechanic and the steering completely went while I was on the road. The steering wheel was spinning freely. Absolutely terrifying. After getting a tow, the mechanic said the steering is a complete mess, someone could have been killed and that it was scandalous the car was given a safety certificate prior to sale. Thankfully I got my money back and no-one was injured. By the sounds of things it could have ended very badly!

 

[SDM]

Sounds like a combination of a rooted tie-rod end and shot boots in the control arm/s.

Pretty easy to do yourself really.

 

[TimmyB]

Don't think so mate, the mechanic said it was an absolute shambles and would cost a fortune to fix. Some idiot had taken to it with welding torch.

 

[Cupid Stunt]

That afternoon I was taking it down to the mechanic and the steering completely went while I was on the road. The steering wheel was spinning freely.

Impressive you are able to return to tell that story. Well done!

Thankfully I got my money back and no-one was injured.

Just as impressive! Well done, again!