I am having an issue with the steering on my 2006 1LT with 192K miles.

The steering is sticking at certain points when you make a turn. There are spots where it sticks and then when you turn it further it goes easy again, then sticks again. The sticking may just be assist dropping out. I can live with it for now as it just means turning a little harder but it does seem to be getting worse slowly.

There are NO errors displayed on the DIC.

What do you think, rack & pinion or power steering motor/sensor assembly?

I could unplug the power steering unit and see if it still has sticky spots when turning. It would obviously be harder to steer without assist, but it should be a constant effort if the power unit was at fault.

Steve

 

My bet is the rac or the intermediate shaft U-joint.

 

Replace that rack!

 

Conceivably could be hubs, LCA bushings, ball joints, strut bearings, tie rods as well.

 

If it’s inner and outer tie rods it wouldn’t effect the steering like that, a worn out steering rack and pinion would, been there done that, the rack fixed a lot of problems for me.

 

I grabbed each of the u joints in the intermediate shaft while one of my kids moved the wheel back and forth about 45 degrees. It felt like the u joint at the rack end was loose at the bearings and had radial play in them.

I ordered a replacement intermediate shaft from Rock Auto which should be here later this week. When I take things apart I will have a better idea if I was right. If not, then I will order a rack.

Meanwhile, I am not driving the car just in case the u joint lets go.

Steve

 

I took off the intermediate shaft.

It was the lower U-joint just above the rack. It had rusted and one side of the U-joint was sticking so bad that I couldn't move it by hand.

I installed the new shaft and now it works fine.

To remove and install the intermediate shaft, I unbolted the steering column/power steering motor assembly under the dash and pulled it out until it cleared the shaft splines. Then I unbolted the bottom end of the shaft from the steering rack and removed the shaft. Reverse order to install the new one. Went pretty quick, the hardest part was getting the big rubber grommet to go into the hole properly.

Steve

 

Good deal - glad it is resolved. Looks like DonBrew nailed it yet again.

 

Good job! Fixed!!! Great call Don!