Thread: Steering intermediate shaft noise

so since i purchased my current b13, there has been A LOT of steering wheel play. It sux because everyone in my area knows me for having the tightest suspension around. The car rides great, but just cant get this play out. First off the shell came with no rack. I got a manual rack from a 1990 b13 @ harry's. I changed tie rods, es bushings everywhere, front and back. I noticed there was some in/out play from the inner tied rods with a friend holding the steering wheel in place. One day i went to park and heard a loud clunk from the steering column area. After that once i turned the wheel, there would be times where the steering wheel would feel bound up until it clicks, then it would free up. I removed the boots from the rack and observed that the rack initially moved up then in inside of the housing before the wheels of the car started to move. So i assumed the rack was bad.

I found another rack that was tighter than a virgin locally for cheap. Installed it... viola, play gone, smooth steering, no column noises. Until a few days after, the infamous clunk came back. After that, back to the loose feel, excessive steering play. The only reused part with the two racks was the u joint. Could this be the cause of the intermediate binding? It hasnt done it in weeks since the first day it did bind up after the new install. The u joint didnt really feel stiff when i installed it, but then again its from 1990. Or can it be what im thinking, steering column issues? Do steering columns fail? Idk the history of the car, but it definitely been in one or two wrecks. Just throwing that in. Maybe something could have affected the column.
Anyone with ideas....

1990 b13? b13 started in 91

U joints are different between power steering and manual racks. But since you say you pulled the rack...
I would look for another U joint.

"Un-lower" your car

I said the same thing. 1990 b13... that's crazy. I owned ser's for years and worked at dealerships so I think I would know how to tell the year of a car. I checked the door jam and if I remember correctly it was a ending month of 1990.

I know the u joints are different between the two racks that's why I made sure to get it. Im gonna try to change the joint since its easy to get to. its hardt to find one of those for sale so Im gonna try my luck at nissan

"un-lowering" my car isn't gonna solve the problem if it was good when I change the rack. thanx for that idea. . .

ive been having the same problem recently .my b14 started doing that once the 0 degree weather hit.when its real cold , the wheel binds belts squeak.once you move it n hear the clunking sound, but once the car warms up belt noise goes away and no more binding

sounds similar but you sound like u have power steering. I have a manual rack so temps shouldn't affect that unit.

o ok.good luck.hopefully its something small