STERRING LINKAGE HELP

[96/z26]

Hey guys, I have a quick question.

I just took my beretta in and got $2100 worth of suspension work done to it. I completely overhauled the entire front and rear including brakes, rotors, drums, pads, etc. You name it. However, when I drove it away i could still feel a rattling and knocking noise. You could still feel it in the steering column as well. I took the car back to the shop and the guy told me to turn off the car but to leave the key forward. He then grabbed my wheel and moved it left and right and you could hear the noise again.

He didn't know the exact name for the part but it looks like a long pole that is in the steering column and he says it wears out and gets loose and sounds like it knocks when you are even sitting idle etc. He says thats why i can feel it in the steering wheel.

Do any of you know what this part is called? He says he cant find it anywhere.

Thanks guys!

Ron

[woody90gtz]

Sounds like he is describing a steering shaft, but our cars don't really have them because the rack is mounted on the firewall. Rag joint maybe? Usually when they get worn the steering just feels loose though.

Here's another possibility. Way back in 2005 I had a shop install my new springs & struts. They threw out the angled spacer on the strut mounts and did not reuse them on the new struts & strut mounts. Car felt weird...it didn't steer right and you could feel it in the steering wheel.

[Asylum]

I'm with Woody on this.
There are a myriad of things that can get screwed up doing that much work on your front end.
Steering shafts are fixed and are pretty stable.
You have a front end issue.
Find a good shop and get it checked out.
Second opinions never hurt.

[96/z26]

Sorry guys I should have been more clear. This sound was there before any work was done on the car. I replaced the struts, control arms and bushings. The front rotors and pads. Rear drums and brake cylinders and pads. Rear shocks and springs.

I hoped that would have fixed the sound but I'm assuming it has something to do with steering. I could be wrong and he could be wrong.
When I'm sitting at a light I hear a rattling knock and it's louder when it's in neutral. It sounds like its coming from the top left of the front and also bottom left under the dash by the firewall. Of course it also makes the sound when I'm driving as well.

Does this help any? Thanks again for any input!

Ron

P.S... I'm sitting in the car and as I put the car in drive keeping my foot on the brake I turn the wheel just slightly to the right I hear the rattling sound. It's the same in neutral.

[96/z26]

Well holy crap. It took me forever to figure this out. I was driving to work yesterday and the noise sounded like it was getting worse. (i have always thought it had something to do with the struts. I pulled in to work and decided to check the hood bolts on the left side near the dash.
Well sure enough thats where the sound was coming from.
There is a metal plate that the hood bolts on to. Ill take a photo of it later when im around the car. The plate is moulded to the shape of the hood and im assuming it should be welded to the hood itself. Mine seems to be separating from the hood itself. So when i drive it rattles like hell and I can feel it through my steering wheel. Also when im turning the wheel at idle it will make a noise.

I put the car in neutral with the engine running and sure enough the damn rattle was there so I pushed down on the top left part of the hood by the drivers door and it went away.

Go figure. Im glad I didnt put money into chasing this problem. Thanks again guys!