Hello all, I have a NBP 07 TL-S 6MT. My front steering is severely sloppy feeling. It feels like I'm driving a 1990s Buick Oldsmobile. When I move the wheel it has no feel to it. It's completely loose feeling unlike the normal super tight Type S feel. Anyone have an idea of what it is? I have a suspicion it's tie rods. My car has 118K on it.

 

I think you're on the right track.
How is the tire wear? Check the rear tires too, to account for any rotation immediately preceding the sloppy feel.

Did the car go through any suspension work or damage before the sloppy feel started, or was there any tire alignment done after the sloppy steering?

 

could be steering rack going out

 

How would I diagnose it's the steering rack? I'll give the front suspension a check tonight.

 

I started to notice the sloppy steering when I drove up a very bumpy driveway in the snow. The driveway is almost a mile long. I had to literally fly up this bumpy driveway because if I didn't I'd slide down the hill. It's on a heck of an incline. So I started to notice it after that event.

 

Sounds like the alignment was tweaked and that a four-wheel alignment is needed.

Hopefully you don't find any damage to the suspension. If you do, get an alignment only after part(s) replacement.

 

Try to rule out everything else in the suspension first.
I don't think there's a suretell way of diagnosing a steering rack, but try jacking up the front of the car, turn on the engine, and steer back and forth with the wheels off the ground. Any noises or inconsistencies with the steering should be pretty isolated to the rack at that point.

 

I'll check it out tonight to see if I hear anything odd. Maybe I'll record a video of it too. Thanks!

 

I bet it's the Control Arm Bushings that are worn/torn that are causing the play and "slop" in the steering. Replace them and it should tighten up the steering by quite a bit. Also replace the Power Steering Fluid too! With 118K on your shocks they probably need to be replaced too and are the cause of the "float" and 1990's oldsmobile feeling. My shocks lasted me until 150K on my TL and I had them replaced with another set of factory shocks and the difference was night and day. You should check the wear on your front tires and see how they are. Usually when this type of steering slop occurs the tires start to wear out prematurely.

Get the new shocks, bushings and do a 4 wheel alignment and you should be good to go for another 180K minus brakes and other fluids!

 

Never heard of that model before.

 

Thanks for the information!

I actually replaced my shocks with an A-Spec Type S suspension around 50K. Maybe it's time I looked into replacing it again? I'll check the bushings tonight. I remember my base TL's were torn around 100K.

 

Hahaha. Basically the same car. XP I always use both their names.

 

I went under the car. I recorded a video, but this website wont let me upload it from my phone. Basically... near the rear of the engine.. there was a tinging sound when my friend would turn my steering wheel left to right in a quick motion. It's definitely where the slack is coming from in my steering. Where is the Rack located?

 

Anyone know where the Rack is located?

 

Follow the tie rod from the wheel into the rack.

 

Oldsmobuick. From the movie Fletch.

 

I followed the noise to directly the center behind the engine. I'm unsure exactly what the rack looks like. It goes behind the engine where I can't see. :P

 

Are you having a little vibration going on on your steering wheels?