OK, I've been trying to figure out this unusual rattle that seems to be coming from the front end. When I go over a bump on the highway the steering wheel shakes for a few seconds and the car like shimmys. Its definitely coming from the front since I feel it the steering wheel. My first though was struts but they seem fine (stock, only 50k on the clock). I can push down on the front end and the car doesn't bounce like one would wich bad struts. So my second idea was maybe warn tie rods but they seem fine. Boots are all intact and I get no play in the wheel when I move the tire while holding at 9 and 3-oclock.

Any other ideas? Maybe strut mount? I've searched but all I can come up with is the rear pillow ***** but its not coming from the rear.

Oh its a '93 rex pretty much stock with 50k.


Thanks!

 

Simple things first, get a floor jack & jack up each side. Find a jack point that keeps the wheel at street ride height. Usually directly below the lower strut connection. Once the wheel is off the dirt, have your assistant grab the tire at the 9:00 & 3:00 positions and try to waggle the wheel side to side manually. You'll stick your head under & look for movement in tie rod ends, A-frame or other components. Try again at 6:00 & 12:00 positions try to waggle the wheel top to bottom. If you see components moving sloppy thats your issue. If all seems tight but wheel shows movement, its wheel bearings. Pretty much the front suspension should be waggle free, moving one side should be telegraphed though the connecting rods, to the other side. I f you can waggle one side without the other moving, find the sloppy component. ............rxinator

 

Hey guys, im having the same issue. Im noticing it more now because im driving the car alot more and i see how its bothering me compared to my DD which doesnt do that.

Basically i get steering wheel jiggle whenever i encounter imperfections in the road. If im driving on a REALLY smooth road, i get nothing. So i know its not wheel balancing. Although i do have a brand new set of 17's with brand new tires that were balanced from factory.

Only thing i can think of is alignment however my car doesnt sway to any side, so i dont think thats it?

Another thing i came across when searching here was my shocks. I have tokico illuminas with unknown springs that came with the car when i bought it over 5 years ago. But i want to make sure its suspension thats my problem so i know i shouldnt be worried that much. I am going with coilovers soon but i still wanna drive the car.

The steering wheel jiggle is annoying however doesnt affect driving, just when i go over imperfections on the road.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

Start by checking the bolts for the steering rack:

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/steering-feels-loose-630285/

 

Cool, ill do that the next nice day we get.

I have a question though, i was looking at the FSM and its a bit hard to tell from the illustration, the ones circled in red, those are the ones i have to check/tighten??

Should i also check the one circled in green? Maybe its not related to the steering rack but its bolted to the subframe? thingie as well so maybe??

Thanks

 

Those are two of them, there are two more rearward of those. Probably won't have anything to do with what you are describing. However, it's a good idea to check the torque on all your suspension/steering components.