Can a worn steering rack cause a death wobble?

[Waffleofdarkness]

So, it started as I was turning a corner at about 60 kmh (45 mph) And hit a little bump, the steering wheel shook for a few seconds and stopped. I thought little of it. Later I was on the freeway doing 90 kmh and hit a bump going straight, and the same thing happened, only it was alot more violent and it lasted for about a minute when I slowed down on the nearest off ramp. I checked tie rods, ball joints and wheel bearings and they are all tight, I doo feel a bit of play int eh steering wheel. Could it be the steering rack?

 

[2TimingTom]

Check your lug nuts.

 

[Verse]

Not sure if this is what you're looking or even about the same type of thing but i couldn't get my truck over 60 MPH without a wheel shake that was pretty violent, so much i didn't even want to take onto the interstate. Whenever id hit a pothole or bump the wheel would shake and the truck would get lose.

Replaced the whole rack and pinion and these problems are gone now, much more stable over bumps and can get well over 60 MPH with no shaking or vibration.

 

[Dave 1955]

So, it started as I was turning a corner at about 60 kmh (45 mph) And hit a little bump, the steering wheel shook for a few seconds and stopped. I thought little of it. Later I was on the freeway doing 90 kmh and hit a bump going straight, and the same thing happened, only it was alot more violent and it lasted for about a minute when I slowed down on the nearest off ramp. I checked tie rods, ball joints and wheel bearings and they are all tight, I doo feel a bit of play int eh steering wheel. Could it be the steering rack?

Be sure to check inner tie rods.

 

[Waffleofdarkness]

Never thought about the Inners...
Lugs were tight, for sure

 

[Tommylee1282]

Could maybe have knocked a weight off a tire and are out of balance if it's only happening over 60

 

[shadowless127]

You have air in your power steering system. Bleed it and you'll be fine.

 

[delexploder]

I have seen it in my buddies 98 sport, he had new inners and outers, ball joints and bearings, he was swapping everything trying to find it, finally he swapped out the rack and all was good, some kind of internal bypass issue

 

[shadowless127]

I have seen it in my buddies 98 sport, he had new inners and outers, ball joints and bearings, he was swapping everything trying to find it, finally he swapped out the rack and all was good, some kind of internal bypass issue

A bad leak in the rack will allow air into the system.

 

[Waffleofdarkness]

The rack is leaking, should I pick up a seal kit and try bleeding it?

 

[shadowless127]

The rack is leaking, should I pick up a seal kit and try bleeding it?

If the rack is leaking bad I would bleed the system and refill the fluid as you are bleeding and then buy a new rack.