Feb 13 2008
Got tires for the car, but…
I bought a new set of 215/60-16 Fuzion HRi tires from a local discount tire store and had them mounted and all that good stuff. Then I went over to Wal-Mart to get new wiper blades and upon leaving, I noticed the car was making a faint “clunk” type sound when I turned the wheel. I had the music down for some reason or another so I heard it. Every time I turned the wheel slighly to the left it did it. I called the tire place back and they said to return so they could look at it. They came up with the conclusion that it was the rack & pinion and quoted me $800-900 including ball joints and an alignment. I had them give me a written estimate.
Then I went over to a garage I trust and discussed it with them. They began to quote me for a rack & pinion but then I showed the mechanic there the problem that was occuring. A soft “clunk” sound when I turn the wheel. He exclaimed “that’s not the rack & pinion”. He went on to explain that it sounds like it’s a spring/strut issue. If I’m remembering correctly, he said it probably has to do with the spring “popping” under tension when I turn the wheel due to a bearing plate issue. The reason I’m in the dark about it still is by the time I got done at the tire place, I arrived at the garage at about 5:35pm and they must close at 6pm since they told me to come back tomorrow and seemed like they were ready to get out of there soon.
So, I will be taking the car back in tomorrow for them to look it over and get me a PROPER estimate. I was very worried about this but now I’m less concerned by the symptoms. If it was a rack & pinion problem, it would have problems with steering, but it doesn’t. It just softly clunks when turning, not driving straight (as far as I can tell). But they’ll check for rack leaks and all that tomorrow. Wish me luck!!