steering issues. (possibly rack?) help please.
 

hello all. for the past few months ive been trying to figure out this wheel wobble. couldnt figure it out. replaced the tie rod ends, control arms, cradle bushings, sway bar links and the axle. well yesterday, whatever the hell has been causing it finally broke. pulling out of my grandmothers driveway while turning, (she has one of those raised driveways with a curved curb) i heard a pop. went to go home, and the steering wheel is at 9 oclock to go straight. today, i felt alot of 9-3 play in that wheel, so i replaced the inner tie rod end. now, the wheel is at 3 oclock to go straight, but the problem is exactly the same as far as play goes. i know an alignment can fix the wheel being in the wrong spot, but it wont fix the play, or the fact that if i hit a bump with the right wheel it pulls the car at whatever angle it hit the bump at. im thinkin the rack is screwed. i dont mind replacing it, but i cant find any info on doing so. ive got an alldata account, and there is absolutely no information on how to replace the rack. any help is appreciated!

hey Jason...Steering gear ?...any leaks anywhere?
I am surprised there is not much on All data..I have some info from FSM section 3B
under power steering gear & pump, but not exactly what I would call sufficient!
https://www.gmforum.com/attachment.p...ine=1414918464
I am sure the rack replacement is a big deal$. Don't panic yet..
Inspect further ...Would it not be worth while to let an alignment guy look at it first?
I will now let others chime in who may have some ideas or have tackled this rack replacement before.

Well, it's fairly easy checking the front end components, by jacking up the front end on one side, and then the other....

You have done all this work....and never had an alignment done? Can just about guarantee that your toe is out, and making your tires pay for it.....

Replacing a rack is not that bad.....hardest part is removing the two power steering lines from the rack, since they are hard to get to sometimes, and can take some force to break them free..........

Both tires, intermediate shaft pinch bolt, two power steering lines, tie rod end nuts, cradle bolts......really not that hard.....if on a lift....on the ground, well that's another story....

before you throw money at it make sure the rack is secured to frame, I found a lot of frames on front drive rot where the rack is bolted to them, rack breaks loose, in that case,frame needs replacing ($400 part), watch end of rack through wheel well and have someone turn wheel back and forth, if rack is jumping up and down, its broke. usually a wheel turns out so it should be noticeable when parked.

it has been aligned.... 4 times in the last 6 months. every time i replace a part i take it in. ive got a lifetime alignment package at firestone.... im going to just run it by midas tomorrow for the free check. my back is too screwed from that tie rod to be up under it again just to look.

any alignment shop would know right away, if there is a problem with steering or suspension, any one I dealt with, will not align the vehicle with a bad part on it. see if Midas can check where rack is mounted to frame, make sure all the mounting points are intact and tight. if they are fairly knowledgeable, tell them your problem and see if they can find the issue. mine was a rotted frame where rack bolts on, it was close to your description as to the way it acted, as I said have it checked, find the bad part first before going any farther. don't be surprised, if they find rack broke that they wont let you drive it. have them show you any issues they find.