Rack And Pinion - Bad?

[Caddiso1]

I know I’m a pain in the arse around these parts. I need advice or maybe yall know if these shops are right.

I’ve been trying to nail down this annoying sound for a very long time. I replaced struts, end links and control arms. Nothing seems to have fixed this sound.
Link:

I started pulling on the steering shaft and found play. I also noticed in park if you rock the wheel it makes a sound that I believe is similar to the one in the video. In the process I noticed the boot on the passenger side inner tie rod is unclamped.

Links:






I thought it was a shaft but, I took the car in twice to get a professional diagnosis. AutoNation Ford Orange Park and an independent shop. Both (highest rated in my area) are saying it’s the entire rack and pinion/gear. Not a belt, not a shaft, everything (part/kit is 1500 bucks). 2500 bucks (2k from the independent shop as it was a remanufactured unit).

Does this sound like a rack gone bad?

Notes no one will care about:
We don’t drive this car much anymore after getting a RAV4 a month ago. Plan to get rid of it for an GT, honestly. Its gonna be a couple years. I do worry the one time we do drive it maybe could be a safety issue?

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[Cobra Jet]

I had created this technical reference thread for the EPAS unit a while back, which contains a lot of info for the EPAS/PSCM.
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/s550-epas-pscm-tech-accumulation.160616/


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Also check your steering column.

Here is the bare steering column out of a 2015 Mustang and essentially the same as any 2016-current day Mustang.

I found the below images online for display/discussion purposes.

The first image as seen, is how the unit looks installed in the vehicle if looking at it from the engine bay, passenger side. The large black metal encasement is a bearing assembly and that section meets the firewall, with the open ended joint protruding through to the interior and gets secured to the bottom of the interior steering column shaft.

The other end with the small rubber "rag joint" as they call it, is what attaches to the EPAS shaft. That shaft is collapsible as seen because it has to be in the event of a major front impact.

Any binding or noises the driver is feeling or hearing could be attributed to these 2 parts of this column assembly. The joints at each end should be 100% tight and secure into their respective shafts (interior side and exterior side). Binding from suspension components would also create feedback in the column from EPAS.

The S550 Mustang also has an SCCM -
Steering Column Control Module, which is this part (common "clock spring")::
https://www.oemford.parts/oem-parts/ford-column-housing-jr3z3f791ha
It really shouldn't be causing any noises, but it's another part of the steering assembly.

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I do know some Fords with EPAS also may have a steering shaft torque sensor that is usually mounted to the column. I am not aware that the S550 has this sensor on the column, maybe internally to EPAS circuitry. Even if that sensor exists in the S550, it shouldn't be making any noises in the interior.

 

[Caddiso1]

Replaced the steering rack/gear. Fixed the issue!

 

[ORRadtech]

Replaced the steering rack/gear. Fixed the issue!

Did you do the work or have it done?

 

[Caddiso1]

Did you do the work or have it done?

Unfortunately, I don’t have the equipment to do it at home :/ so I paid the dealer to do it.

They cut me a decent deal. 1500 for the part (MSRP). 650 for labor with alignment. Originally they quoted me 3200 for the job but that wasn’t with my guy that has been there for years and he gave me a AAA discount of 150, “10% off labor”, Ford Pass Points (200 bucks), and he added some other “adjustments” to the price.

Out the door I paid 2531 out the door, I had them test (it passed barely) and replace the starter while they were in there.

An independent shop quoted me around 1900 out the door with a refurbished unit.

 

[ORRadtech]

Glad it fixed your problem. My son and I replaced the steering rack in my daughter’s Focus a few years ago. It's a lot of work and awkward as hell on jackstands! At the time she could barely afford the parts so what's a dad to do?

 

[K4fxd]

When I was a line mechanic I hated when a bad rack came into my bay.

 

[victorso1]

Replaced the steering rack/gear. Fixed the issue!

That's great! I think I may have the same problem as yours, I hear a clunking rattling noise driving on rough roads on slow speed. I have pretty much replaced everything. Replaced both controls arms, stabilizer links, strut mounts, spring seats, inner and outer tie rods and still have that stubborn clunk rattle. May I ask if you by any chance have pictures of the parts you have replaced. Is the steering rack the whole Electronic Assisted Power Steering? Or is it the steering shaft? How about the gear, which gear is it? Thank you.

 

[Caddiso1]

That's great! I think I may have the same problem as yours, I hear a clunking rattling noise driving on rough roads on slow speed. I have pretty much replaced everything. Replaced both controls arms, stabilizer links, strut mounts, spring seats, inner and outer tie rods and still have that stubborn clunk rattle. May I ask if you by any chance have pictures of the parts you have replaced. Is the steering rack the whole Electronic Assisted Power Steering? Or is it the steering shaft? How about the gear, which gear is it? Thank you.

it’s all one part. It’s electric on 2015+ cars. I don’t have any photos but here’s the part.
You have to get it programmed.


https://www.fordpartsoem.com/oem-pa...1c3RhbmcmeT0yMDE2JnQ9djYmZT0zLTdsLXY2LWdhcw==

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