Common problem I think but who would be best to fix?
TW Magna drives straight but free play in steering wheel is driving me insane. also when going over small bumps there is knocking in front rack area I think. Is it a steering column or rack issue. Would a suspension tech or just regular mech be best. Any thoughts please.

have u checked the tie rod ends lately? may be an issue,

Suspension specialists are good for steering issues but just about any mechanic would be competent to do tie rod ends, steering rack and the such.

Thanks revhead, I'll get them checked. I'm worried tho if I take it in to a mechanic etc they will just replace parts and then say its something else just to get money out of me. Prev experience has me thinking avg mechanics are just replace and see what happens. I could end up with new tie rid ends, then struts, then it's the rack mounts or worse the whole rack. I wouldn't know as I'm not trained in car mechanics. Service items is my limit unfortunately.

Thanks dreggzy. I gotta find a trustworthy mechanic.

Thanks revhead, I'll get them checked. I'm worried tho if I take it in to a mechanic etc they will just replace parts and then say its something else just to get money out of me. Prev experience has me thinking avg mechanics are just replace and see what happens. I could end up with new tie rid ends, then struts, then it's the rack mounts or worse the whole rack. I wouldn't know as I'm not trained in car mechanics. Service items is my limit unfortunately.

Bit hard on the mechanics, aren't you? If you are assuming a sloppy front end has just the one cause, and is easily identified, you would be wrong. On an older high Km Magna, front end slop can be any combination of the following wear items:
Tie rods.
Tie rod ends.
Ball joints.
Suspension bushes.
Rack.
Rack mounts.
Wheel bearings.
Suspension struts.

And yes, it is a common practise to look for and identify play in those components, and replace the most worn bit. If that doesn't fix the problem, you repeat the process. No other alternative, you are not being fleeced.

Two choices: Get tech savvy and do your own troubleshooting and repairs OR keep taking it back to the mechanic until you have the problem solved.

:yeahthat:

I own a TE, I put a VRX rear end in a while back and finally got around to putting a TW rack in with only 70,000kms on it that I had bought some months ago. My front end rattled from the wheels to the steering wheel every time it saw a bump in the road :woot:. So, I also replaced the tie rod ends, the "U" rubbers in the torsion bar as well as the links from the torsion bar to the lower control arm as well.

Now it is so damn tight, it handles like a new car.

What I had found worn the most were the rubbers for the torsion bar, the links to the lower control arm and the rack itself had some nasty play in the end of it. Mind you, mine was original TE and obviously had some hard life on it, but it might give you some starting points.

As said above, there is much for the mechanic to look at, they can replace some, all or none and just advise you, either way you will think what you will but the truth is, your car does wear out and it will cost money to fix it :(

As said above, there is much for the mechanic to look at, they can replace some, all or none and just advise you, either way you will think what you will but the truth is, your car does wear out and it will cost money to fix it :(

Considering the weight on the front wheels, and the work the front end has to do to both drive and steer the car, it's pretty good that front end wear doesn't become a problem until you get over the 200,000 km mark.

Thanks beachy, your comments will help. Glad you've sorted your out.