Hello Everyone,
We purchased a used Toyota Corolla GLi 1.3 Automatic 2015 back in 2019. At the time of purchase, it was clocked at 68k KMs. Now it is at 120k KMs. Since the purchase, there has been an issue with the steering rack.
The issue was the loose feeling of steering, as well as a clunking noise when driving over a bumpy surface. I visited the mechanic and he diagnosed that there is play in the rack. He then went to adjust/tight the steering rack which for the time being solved the issue.
But after almost 10k KMs, the issue again arose. Then the mechanic suggested replacing the rack with the kabali one. Then again after the same interval issue was there again, was then replaced the rack with a new china one recently a few months back.
Now the play in the rack is back, which causes the car to produce clunking noise and loose steering which makes it hard to drive at high speed. What I deduced is the rack is going bad after almost 10-15k KMs.
I need your suggestions on what could be the real cause that is destroying the rack so early. There are no other mechanical abnormalities as such, the car drives smoothly and the suspension seems to be fine (Installed new Agriauto shocks too). I'm afraid if I again went to get it resolved, the rack would be gone again.
Kindly guide me to diagnose the main cause which is creating this rack issue.
Thanks