Hey all! Long time no post, but I've got a safety issue I can't seem to find the answer to right now. I've got a '96 Rover Mini, and when I turn the wheel either direction, I have about 1 1/2 to 2 inches of play, and it'll clunk in the transition from right to left, and vice versa. I thought it was tie rod ends at first, but they seem solid :/ Then I discovered something interesting. If I pull the steering wheel up like I'm trying to pull it out of the column, it pops out about 1/2", and I have no play, no clunking while steering, but I have to hold it in that outer position, or else it pops back down and has that play and clunking to it. Anyone know what this could be? From all the diagrams I can find online, it doesn't seem like there are any U-joints in the system to go bad, so I'm stuck thinking it's the rack, or the rod in the column? I can't help but think it's not the rack though, because it does it at any steering angle, right or left. Any help would be VERY much appreciated, I don't feel particularly safe driving to work every day, and it's my only form of transportation on this island

Thanks,
Mike

 

there is a joint at the base of the column just before it passes through the floor (where the column is fixed to the rack), check the bolt has not come loose, otherwise maybe check your steering rack is secure.

 

Thank you for the response! I checked the nut, tightened it a little bit, but the problem is still there :/ It seems to go in and out in severity as far as the loudness and play while it clunks, but it hasn't gotten worse thankfully.