Sorry to bring up old topic,but seems that i have maybe the same problem. First also i'm not native English speaking and sorry in advance if say or write something wrong, and second that track rod problem maybe come also to our car. We bought it on 36 000km, and now is around 78 000km. Just in a couple of weeks ago on raw surface road there was strange noise, and remind me that the rod end bolts are.. going to die. After that come that "floating" to the right if i drive over 40km/h and not keep the steering wheel.
I replace both of them and also anti roll bar links, although the last one was almost ok in my opinion.Follow service check for the right canister(was that the name of the inside wheel angle) and drive. The "floating" has gone for some time, but now again that small annoying rattle come. Now is even bad,if i make full right with the steering, drive slowly back and start to straight there is in some point one "knock" and if continue to go to full left..nothing.No noise or knock..
If the car is not moving,no contact with the key, and try to move left and right, there is no noise turning right,or not that big, but just when change to left there is, and the again nothing if continue. Also i check anti roll bar rubber bushes.. seems ok. Then i test, putting the car on jack first left wheel up, right one on the ground and try to turn, again the sound is there. Then the right one up left down the "knock" is... there.
I try to go under the car and catch with hands both of the steering rod links and friend rotate slowly left-right, right-left and again..
There is little "knock" feeling from the left one but still i`m not so sure that is 100% that the problem.
My front suspension arms bushes seems to be in bad shape already and need replacement,also the brake disks and pads..
The last one for sure is not the problem for that,because i`ve try to rotate while push the break pedal - same story.With or without brakes pushed.
That rod link part is available for sale here for 18e, just.. the work is much and then again wheel angle check.. , that is why i wish to be almost sure where is the problem.
Is it possible also that inside joint to be loosen, i mean that thread that connect the rack with the rod to be open in some reason and to make that noise.. Now 3 days later that noise start to be even more and mostly knocknig in sharp moving of steering wheel..
Also have that small idea that is possible the outside rod end ball joints to not be ok, even they are new..
And where are that bearings that all of you mention in the posts ..? and is it possible to be that
plastic bush (which should be somewhere on top of the rack control teeth wheel and how can i test is that?
Any idea will be more that welcome