steering problems with my vt??

[to-be]

ok so i took my vt in to get pinkslipped and got knocked back on a slight knocking noise coming from the steering rack & fluid leaking. He told me for him to pass it i needed to replace the tie rod and the tie rod end. on the drivers side.

i did this with a mate who has done it on his own car not along ago, took it back and he didnt even look under the car and passed me...

went and paid 1200 for rego and was driving home when the steering wheel started to jolt through my hands and a quick strong pull to one side when ever it hits bumps . been driving for a couple days and it seems to be just getting worse and very dangerouse. AND that slight knocking noise is alot louder now..its also pulling to the left on the straights..

so my question is, will a wheel alignment fix the jolting ?? or is it something loose in the steering rack??? i have booked in for a alignment tomoroow but i dont want to waste $80 on something that wont fix it, only to find out i have to replace the whole rack and get a new alignment after anyway...

[Verynice]

wheel alignment wont fix it

its most probably movement in your rack or tie rod end/s

[Jarryd F]

jack up the car and make sure everything is bolted down properly most likely the ball joint nut on the tie rod end is probably loose. also check if the tie rod is in the rack properly. But your tyre place will be able to have a look and tell you whats wrong. It could even be that your wheel isn't bolted back on properly.

[wortus]

If the rack was leaking it would not be from the rack end or tie rod end it would be a seal inside the rack itself so sounds like a good mechanic!
When you did the rack end how did you do it? If you did it on the car there is a specail tool you need to support the rack from twisting and damaging the teeth on it and the pinion shaft where thy mesh. Sounds to me like you have another problem with your suspension check the rest of it out especially your front sway bar link pins.
As far as wheel alignment it should get one with a rack end/tie rod replacement however if your rack is leaking still your going to need to fix that first. $80 is a total rip off for a front alignment I'd be checking other places last one I got cost me $40