Opinions on steering arms

[Yanayaya]

Previously I mentioned a rattling type noise from under the car when it was cold that actually goes away when the car's up to temperature. Whilst the car was in the garage recently getting the PS feed pipe replaced I asked them to have a quick glance at the steering setup (bushes and ball joints) and see if there was anything they felt could be causing it.

They came back to me and said that the steering arms had play in them with one being worse than the other. I looked on the fish website and found the replacement parts (verified with my garage that it was the part they were talking about) but thought I would ask Monkfish to verify exactly what they were because Andy is always good at warning you if something needs additional work, and right enough they told me that they advise people to replace the steering rack because although these parts can be replaced with a good grade loctite and much force it's better to replace the rack.

I'm now thinking that perhaps my garage may have gotten it wrong, has anyone else had the steering arms fail on them or could this be mistaken identity on my garages behalf? Personally I've not been under to check because the weather just hasn't been right for it.

[MadMaxHSV]

Whats to fail on the steering arms aside the track rod ends and potentially the rack ball joint (rare).
If the rod ends have play they are easily replaced with no issue.
Even the inboard joint should be replaceable without needing a whole new rack? Surprised if Monkfish suggested this?

Would be odd if this explained the rattle when cold though. From what you say I assume this isn't a rattle sound when stationary? (lots of causes for this)

Edited by MadMaxHSV on Wednesday 7th January 14:14

[monkfish1]

For clarification, the inboard joint is "staked". I.e, crushed after fitment to stop the thread from coming loose. The GM manual says its non reparaible, replace rack.

You can usually get them out without to much thread damage, but the new one cannot be staked.

[MadMaxHSV]

monkfish1 said:

For clarification, the inboard joint is "staked". I.e, crushed after fitment to stop the thread from coming loose. The GM manual says its non reparaible, replace rack.

You can usually get them out without to much thread damage, but the new one cannot be staked.

Interesting. Explains that then Odd for them to be non-serviceable, but shouldn't surprise.

[Yanayaya]

It's an odd one for sure, thanks for clarifying monkfish staked was the word I was looking for I couldn't remember. I would have expected my ball joints to have gone long before the steering arms. A pedders quick rack could be on the cars but not right now, I still need a second opinion I think for my own sanity.

[monkfish1]

Yanayaya said:

It's an odd one for sure, thanks for clarifying monkfish staked was the word I was looking for I couldn't remember. I would have expected my ball joints to have gone long before the steering arms. A pedders quick rack could be on the cars but not right now, I still need a second opinion I think for my own sanity.

Its not a common failure, but it does happen.