Well I'ts been a couple months since I drove my dad's 97 bird, so last Saterday I borrowed it to go pick up some parts for my Camaro and was scared to death driving it. The whole front end shakes there's a lot of play in the steering wheel the car wanders where it wants and so on. So I bring it home jack it up and procede to check out the front end. Rag joint fine, outer tie rods fine, ball joints fine. I then notice a large amound of power steering fluid coating the bottom of the car and something inside the rack boot seemed to be moving when the wheel was turned. I undid the clamps for the boot slid the boot down the tie rod and had some one turn the wheel. I can see the steel shaft that comes out of the rack under the boot moving up and down as it moved in and out. I'm assuming this means the rack is junk, the car has 130,000 miles on the original rack. Am I right, also how good are the parts store rebuilds, more than likely i'll end up going to autozone. And where is the suspension code located?the autozone computer says inside the trunk lid but I don't see it, I've been told since the car has the Y whater opion with the duels 4wheel disc and posi It also has the same F whatever rack as the V8 cars. Any help would be greatly apreciated

Pat

ps sorry for typing so much

 

If the shaft is moving up and down then yes the rack is bad.. We also have inner tie rods.. which wear out and can be replaced . If its leaking fluid then its finished..

 

I'm asuming the inner tie rods ends are the cv joint looking things, is there a way to check them, they seem pretty tight.

 

If they are tight then they are ok.. if the innr shaft is moving up and down the the rack is bad..