Looking for advice regarding some steering issues I'm having on my 02 V6 with 97,000 miles. I have a feeling it's the rack and pinion but don't know for sure if it's the only issue. Bump steer has been awful, especially at highway speeds and on turns. The wheel will not return back to center on its own after making a right or left turn going forward but, will return back to center on its own when doing the same in reverse. When pulling sharp turns (like parallel parking) there's a creaking light thud. I've just had both the upper and lower control arms with ball joints replaced on the front driver and passenger, all brake pads replaced (new rotors were not necessary), the front struts/coil springs and sway bars replaced, tires replaced, and had an alignment. These replacements solved my issues with loose and wide turns, diving, the death wobble (especially at highway speeds), and mostly solved my issue with the car wandering. The power steering pump is fine and the rack and pinion is sweating a bit with a very minor leak collecting at the boot and in the bellows. However, it has barely effected the level of the power steering fluid at all.

For additional context, I did have an accident about 6 months ago. I hit a pothole which caused my front passenger tire to pop while making a turn on an exit. I spun out at around 35 mph, and went over a curb into the grass median with the front end of the car. Did not need to be towed but did have my tire replaced- no other cars were involved and there wasn't any body damage (including to the front end, shockingly). Prior to the accident I wasn't having any issues with the steering but even after all the front end repairs I am still having a bunch of issues. I figure I probably need to replace the rack and pinion but, was wondering if the rack and pinion alone would be causing these issues. Has anyone experienced the same with the rack or could there possibly be other issues that haven't been detected yet?

 

Need more caster Find an older front end tech and let him do his miracle wonders to it.