EMWHYR0HEN Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 I hate to hear stories like this. I keep checking this thread because I want to find out what happend. If you can't find EXACTLY what happened I wouldn't just pick and choose guessing what went wrong. The safe way to approach your problem is to fully inspect ALL steering parts and replace even a slightly suspicious part. When's the last time you got your rack inspected? it's not too expensive to get them rebuilt. Good luck, and be SAFE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vegasnative Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 what year did steering lock come into play with nissan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted December 1, 2007 Author Share Posted December 1, 2007 Not sure if i can sleep tonight unless I order this. http://www.thezstore.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=23-4498&Category_Code= Are they available anywhere else or is this it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumper Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 FYI. This is my first time of hearing of something like this so its a not a common occurence. Ironic thing is on the c5 vettes they had LOTS of problems with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forrest Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 I doubt the problem is with your rack - the column lock makes the most sense. I would at least inspect everything before throwing that much money around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffer949 Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 what about the steering shaft binding for a second? or more precisely the u-joint thing. i know ive had swivels for a ratchet get worn out and then they would bind up and wouldnt turn.... just a thought.. but glad your safe... and dont you think its time for a subaru forester rack and convert to power steering??? lol i think thats a great "while im at it" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWRex Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 Good thing noone got hurt is right.Possibly a suggestion,but I took my steering column apart,wasn't particularly sticking on me or anything,but the steering shaft inside the column appeared to be lubricated from the factory,mine was obviously old and dirty,so I cleaned everything and relubricated,and it seems 10x smoother to me.Might want to check that out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted December 1, 2007 Author Share Posted December 1, 2007 At this point there are only a few scenarios that I can think of: 1) Steering lock engaged. (I dissassembled the lock and it seems fine with no way to release if the key is in the ignition, especially in the ON position). 2) Steering column flexed and the notch for the lock flexed over and engaged the tip of the lock or the edge of the lock housing. (unlikely but somewhat feasible) 3) Mechanical bind of the u-joint in the steering coupler area due to compression from braking forces? (possible? who knows, but I would expect that to be a "flexier" feel than I had in the steering wheel) 4) Pebble, or hard particle in the rack teeth (how?) 5) Rack and pinion got into a bad mesh due to excess rack or pinion play. (no play detected by hand forces) 6) Angle of tie rod /^^^^^ to rack and external force pushed the rack into a bound-up linkage state. (lack of rack lube or rack bushing failure?) 7) Rock/stick flew up into the strut/steering arm and got pinched between the control arm and steering linkage. (I see no evidence of this - I can go back to the spot where I came to a stop and look for a fist sized rock that looks out of place) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slownrusty Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 I actually had this happen to me and I went shooting into on coming traffic - to say I was scared is a understatement - I was thinking three years to build this car and my first day out in it I am going to be killed! Mind you it was my old RWD Corolla AE86 Turbo and the downpipe I made was not well designed and it was binding on the rack at a cerain angle...but on a Z its totally different. ..BTW..I am not sure why you need such an expensive rack from MSA...I bought a reman. lifetime rack for my Z at my local parts store for half that cost and has all the boots and inner tie rod ends. When you have the car up in air does the steering feeling silky smooth as you turn from extreme right to extreme left? I'm still abit confused on if it is the rack or as some others say the lock on the ignition barrel. Yasin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1 Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 Glad you're OK, that could have been bad. I would add to your list to check the ball joints, bump steer spacer if you have them, and the to of the strut to make sure they all work freely without binding. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strotter Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 This is a thread that will definitely need a resolution. Cyg, please don't forget to update it when you've figured out the problem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted December 1, 2007 Author Share Posted December 1, 2007 UPDATE: I found it. It was totally a freak accident. There was a loose bolt that must have been sitting somewhere on top of the crossmember. Probably a bolt that was dropped and not found. Anyhow, it made its way to the right side of the lower steering shaft U-joint at the steering rack and stood straight up. At the right moment, it shifted over and blocked the u-joint from turning. When I ran off the road and stopped, I steered the other way and the bolt let go of its hold. It was still standing there right under the u-joint! Caused by some stray bolt, exposed to the right g-forces, at the right time. I am thinking of wrapping the steering u-joints with a boot of sorts (or duct tape) because even a rock in there may cause the same thing. Unreal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil280zxt Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 I"m sure you're relieved to have found the cause Dave. I must say that you're investigative skills are second to none!! You've been lucky twice now, the first time to have made it through the event and now to have found the cause. The bolt could easily have fallen out and you never would have known what caused the bind up. I'd buy a few lottery tickets tonight!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Hawk Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 That's amazing. Amazing that the bolt did that (stood upright in precisely the wrong location!?!), and amazing that it stuck around for you to find. Odds on either of those things happening... too high to think about. Glad the only damage was to your nerves, brother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrommitZ Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 Thanks for the update! Unreal. I'm very glad you found the problem, for you and everyone here. I was considering the idea of removing the ignition lock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 Pucker factor is right! That's VERY scary and I hope you find out what the cause of it was. Look for a dead mouse somewhere in the... Seriously, find it. Locate it. Fix it. I would have serious trepidation in driving a car that I knew could kill me with an intermittent issue like that. Good luck, Dave. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy82zx Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 same thing happended to me in an old plymouth volare. unluckily for me it happened when i was correcting a fish tail. And it was on a narrow country road with fences on either side. I ended up plowing through a fence and laughing about it since the car cost me $150 lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buZy Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 Wow! Glad you are ok! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gretchen/jason Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 Man i know what ya mean by sacrry i had it happen to me once merging onto the highway on ramp but at about 25 mph . My steering lock never worked and i had a push button for the starter well i never used a key as i had keyless entry installed so one day turning left it decided to lock up i blocked the whole intersection for a few minutes as i dug my keys out of my pocket . Ive since replaced the lock/ignition on my new z as i dont want to re live that experience glad youre ok . Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted December 1, 2007 Author Share Posted December 1, 2007 I replaced the ignition lock and key with a Mobil 1 oil cap. Not that the lock caused the problem but I tore it apart trying to find a proplem. Mobil 1 oil cap ignition system will be posted in another thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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