1993 PA Steering Woes

[darklin]

Greetings, this will be my first post on AF.com. Quite pleased I finally found somewhere like this.

Anyway, here's my issue. (I searched your site using a variety of keywords and while I found 'similar' issues. Nothing the same.)

Vehicle: 1993 Buick Park Avenue (NOT Ultra)
Issue: When the car is going 40mph or better, with the steering wheel at center, if you tilt the wheel like you are going to turn in the 'slop/play' region but don't actually turn, there's a thumping noise at specific points, felt in the steering wheel itself and slightly in the feet. This thumping noise continues as long as the wheel is held in the proper position, but disappears the moment you actually start turning or return to 'true center'. I've had 2 mechanics go over it and not find anything wrong with the hubs/bearings/tie rods/rack etc. This issue used to only happen at 60+mph, it's now starting at 40mph, so it is getting worse.

I'm down to guessing at a worn cv joint or warn/loose steering shaft.

My question is, would either of those cause an issue like this? I'm on a very limited budget so it would be nice to know before throwing money at it and seeing what sticks. (I've done that with this issue twice thus far. I almost did it again today but the mechanic talked me out of replacing the inner tie rod ends as he could find nothing wrong with them.)

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF, obviously tough to remotely diagnose a condition such as this, but a wheel bearing is my first guess, is there a difference going to the lt or rt?

[darklin]

Thanks for the quick response, max. The vibration/repeated thumping seems to happen just before the start of a 'right' turn. I say just before as it's the point when all the 'play' of the wheel is gone and just before it actually starts into the turn... I was figuring this was going to be difficult to figure out. Ah well, I have an appointment with a front end alignment specialist on Thursday. He's supposed to check it over and tell me what, if anything, is wrong. I hope...

[maxwedge]

This is a fw bearing issue, he'll find it.

[kaspr]

I think this could very well be a ball joint issue. I've had similar symptoms to what you're describing, and it was the ball joints that needed replacing.