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Supra Road Trip & Steering Rack Questions

8K views 14 replies 6 participants last post by  ddd228 
#1 ·
Just took my '86 Supra on a 1400 mile / 2 day road trip. By far the longest trip we have ever taken it on. It performed great - and the constant compliments, thumbs up and praises were warmly welcomed. I do a lot of road trips, but they are always in new cars (I work in the auto industry) - but this trip in the Supra was easily the most entertaining one for me. The character and personality of the MKII Supra really shines on the open road!

Anyways - as the car did great (no unexpected stops, breakdowns, etc), I am starting to notice a click coming from the front right side while the car is in motion. I'm pretty sure it's from the steering rack. The car steers fine and tracks straight - and no different noises when turning the wheels - just a constant clicking when the car is moving. It's most noticeable when driving slow. I'm also seeing a very small drip of power steering fluid on the ground from the steering rack.

So what options do we have for steering racks? Search shows Jorgen Automotive. Anyone use them recently?
Also - if I look for a used one off of a parts car - do I need to be year specific or will any steering rack from '82 - '86 work?

Any suggestions or comments are welcome!

Chris
(auto_cran)
 
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#2 ·
That sounds more like a wheel bearing noise. There's nothing moving in the rack when you are going straight to make noise other than fluid. Something like a tie rod end can make noise, but they are usually obviously shot by that point.
 
#4 ·
You sure you didn't pick up a nail or something?
 
#5 ·
Thanks all!

First chance I get I'll get the car up in the air and take a good look. I was just jumping to the steering rack conclusion due to the clicking and the discover of a steering fluid drip both starting at the around the same time. I'll report my findings.

Chris
(auto_cran)
 
#6 ·
Are you sure the drip is from the rack though? I too don't think the noise is from the rack, something in the tire is way more likely. You probably have a nail but its holding air so you haven't noticed, or it could just be a rock firmly wedged in there. I actually just drove home all the way from Vancouver the other night, an hours drive, and picked up a bolt right in front of the tire shop in my home town about 3 minutes from my house. They got the business for fixing the flat too, good business model lol!

If your car is automatic (I assume it is given your handle), keep in mind the power steering takes ATF, similar to whats in your tranny. The lower auto tranny hoses going to the cooler in the rad are much more likely to be leaking then the power steering system.
 
#8 ·
just drove home all the way from Vancouver the other night, an hours drive, and picked up a bolt right in front of the tire shop in my home town about 3 minutes from my house. They got the business for fixing the flat too, good business model lol!
Driving north into Oklahoma from Texas, I forget now which highway it was on, but the road was poured in short concrete segments. For the next 200 miles you'd hear a "thwack-a-thwack-a-thwack-a...." About ten miles in, some entrepreneur put in a tire shop/restaurant/diner out in the middle of nowhere. The change in road surface made people think all of a sudden they had a bad tire or something else wrong so they'd stop at the tire shop, which would probably five times out of ten find some reason to convince people to buy at least one new tire, new shocks or something and conveniently have a meal while they waited. This was long before Indian casinos sprang up right across the Red River, but was written about in a local newspaper article probably 25-30 years ago. Weren't trying to scam anybody, rather just taking advantage of the situation. Absolutely brilliant tho! Wish I could come come up with a million dollar idea like that but all I can come up with is reproducing Supra parts. Even seeding the street in front of your tire shop with nails probably has a better risk/reward ratio. ;)
 
#9 ·
Actually we did that terrible motorist ploy.
Profitable,but a BAD reason.
It was in the slow season. Shameful.
I have pulled some really weird metallic objects out of car tires. A half a pair of pliers?
You may want to consider a "road hazard" clause.
Some motorists have not been so lucky. I am one. Giant staple. 16 P nail. Porcupine quills. (NO).
 
#11 ·
I have pulled some really weird metallic objects out of car tires. A half a pair of pliers?
You may want to consider a "road hazard" clause.
Some motorists have not been so lucky. I am one. Giant staple. 16 P nail. Porcupine quills. (NO).
I stopped to change a flat in my Corvette once and it was a pair of scissors going "*****, *****, *****, *****...."
 
#12 ·
^^ That's hilarious as I see what has been done there!
 
#13 ·
I FINALLY got a day to take a look and see what was causing the clicking noise from the right front of the car.

Turned out, it was the inner wheel well liner flapping around. Two of the many 10MM screws that hold it in place had made a hole through the liner, so that part of the liner was not secure. I placed some big washers on the screws to tightly secure the liner, and the problem was solved. Now things are nice and quiet.

It's great when something like this turns out to be a simple fix.

Hope this helps someone in the event they experience a similar issue!

Chris
(auto_cran)
 
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