So I had my steering rack converted to a manual (long story), and have only recently been driving the car again and whenever I turn at low speeds (ie backing in the driveway or pulling into or out of a parking spot) my steering will “clunk” and then it’s all out of alignment. Pretty significantly out of alignment. I plan on taking it to an alignment shop to have them take a look at it, but wanted to see if anyone else has experienced this before. Biggest fear is something in the steering rack is messed up. Background, I’ve had the subframe off, and control arms off. Verified that the control arms were tight and the bushings were good. Steering rack is tightly bolted to the subframe.

 

Tightly bolted, but is it actually firmly clamped? The clamps may be tight but the rack body where it's clamped may be a tiny bit too small. It really sounds like the rack is shifting (sliding back and forth) in its mounts. If the rack isn't shifting, something else is.
It's unlikely that the rack is actually skipping teeth - that would indicate major rack failure.

And is everything tight and in good condition in the steering column all the way from the steering wheel to the rack?

 

Edited above post...may be useful.

 

As far as I know the rack is firmly clamped, but I will double check it tomorrow! I have a guy from a local shop coming over tomorrow for a different issue, so I can definitely have him help me give everything a once over. Everything is good from steering wheel to rack. I thought it may be slipping possible where the steering shaft connects to the rack, but it seems good and as of right now only one wheel is toed in while the other is straight, so I’d assume if the splined connections were bad or slipping, both wheels would be misaligned similarly. I appreciate the input though, I’m going to look at it.

 

That sounds like one of the 2 threads in the toe adjuster on the toed-in wheel may be stripped. Your symptoms (one wheel only) eliminate the rack itself or its clamping to the chassis as the issue.

 

Mark the rack where the clamps are. Try to repeat what is causing it and see if it shifts. Sounds like that may be the case

 

Sounds mysterious!

Anti-tamper pain might be worthwhile as a quick visual check, even when tight, a high load can sometimes move the adjuster cams.

There's nothing really inside a modified rack to deliver to one side unequally. It would require real skill to install them, .......and I can't remember now which years had the fine and coarse thread inner tie rod, but maybe someone has managed to mate the wrong one somehow. Jacking the wheel to see if there's any obvious play at 9 and 3 and 6 and 12 might be a good first step.

 

Really appreciate everyone’s input! Found out the control arms/ camber bolts came loose after tightening them. Snugged them up real good so gonna try it again. Thinking it may be due to an aftermarket subframe