hard to turn left

[Andre]

could a bad strut bearing cause my car to be hard to turn left?i've been having the "clank" problem on the left side of my car(when making hard rights) for a while now and never got around to it and tonight the car just wouldn't turn left.

ifs its not the strut bearing what could it be?

[AFJuvat]

Inspect your steering and suspension components completely.

AFJuvat

[Andre]

i'm going to need a lot more detail than that. I dont know where to start.

also your reply is kinda like saying "just fix it"

[slevy951]

Could be anything in the system. U-joints in the steering column, tie rods, rack, ball joints, strut bearing.....you need to get it on a rack and see what's going on underneath.

[Andre]

i have a feeling it is the powersteering. could it be that the power steering is broken for one side but not the other?

[AFJuvat]

That is possible.

When I said check your steering and suspension, I literally meant check everything. You are going to have to get the car up on a lift (or jackstands if you are feeling brave), start it up (in Neutral!!) and turn the wheels - you'll be able to feel if the rack is bad or not. inspect control arms, tie-rod ends, balljoints etc until you find the cause.

There are about 10 different things alone or in combination that could cause the symptoms you are describing. It is extremely difficult to troubleshoot a problem like this ("inability to turn left and/or clunking/clanking noise when turning left") in a forum sich as this.

That said, if you would like a shopping list of sorts, this list is not all inclusive, some causes are more likely than others, impossible to tell without physically looking at the car...

Bad/bent steering shaft
Bad bushing/bearing in steering column
worn/bent universal joints
siezed pinion/bad bearing in rack
stripped out teeth in the rack
clogged/broken power steering fluid line
worn out/burned up steering rack
Severely bent tie-rod
Broken tie-rod end
siezed/bent/broken steering knuckle/bearing etc..
Bent/broken control arm
bad ball-joint
cracked/broken springs
broken spring plate
broken/siezed strut

AFJuvat

[Andre]

clunk noise is a different problem than the steering.

i'm 90% sure it is the powersteering now because i went outside and tried turning the wheel without starting the car and it was the same both ways, then when i started the car it was as if i never started it when i tried turning left and then when i turned right it was very easy, going from right back to center was also hard. Is there like a mechanical relay that transfers the powersteering power?

since its a powersteering problem, would driving the car like this damage anything?

[lordgrommit]

is it super easy to turn to the right.. if you've had alot of spririted driving.. the rack can shift. when your drving straight dose the steering wheel change where straight is from time to time.. check that the Rack bolts are tight.

Matt

[Andre]

grommit: it does sorta feel like the wheel has to be turned a little to the left now to be driving straight....i am not sure which bolts you are refering to but if they are the ones circled in the picture then yes they are tight, if these aren't bolts you are ltaking about please let me know where the other ones are

[Andre]

also....what is this? there seems to be a crack at the top...may be something stupid but i'm just trying to check everything in the system and learn something while i'm there too

[AFJuvat]

That looks like a dust boot at the top of your steering rack, and yes, it is cracked.

AFJuvat