How can you tell if a steering rack is bad in a 2002 Prius. My left strut is leaking and I was told this was the cause of my clunking problem. I am hesitant to think so. My car was recently alligned and I just had my second right front wheel bearing replaced. I still need to replace my front left. The car wanders on the highway. I am thinking that maybe its the steering rack, maybe because I am afraid that it is because the repair is over $2000. How can I make sure my steering rack on a 02 Prius is fine?
Check ball joints and tire rod first the clunking is a tati tale thet your ball joints are shot
If you have then engine turned off, look out the window so you can see the front wheel or stand outside the car and turn the wheel very slightly.. if the wheels move straight away then your steering rack should be okay.. also if you put your foot up against the tyre and press really hard and then turn the steering wheel it should be pretty solid...
Another test to give you an indication of your strut top mounts, wheel bearings or steering rack is to jack the front end of the car up and try moving the wheel from side to side and top to bottom, if it moves side to side on both wheels then your steering rack could be at fault or your top mounts.. if youve just had your front right wheel bearing and your right wheel still has movement side to side and up and down it could be the rack, top mount or possible the universal joint..
thats the best advicew i can give really
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if you just had it alligned, and its true, which it shouldnt be cus you have a bad strut and bearings. but if it were and you had new tires, or very good ones still, you took most everything out of the picture. i would fix the things you know that are wrong brfore you replace something that you cant accurately test. the clunk more then not is from your strut, if it sound like its going to come through your car at times.
another thing, if you turn your wheel all the way one way and go in reverse, in a tight circle, very slow, and there is a action like swaying or noise, can also be your cv joint
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