Subframe fell down.

[Felon454]

I know this is extremely common up north with all the salt on these cars. I have free parts at the junkyard so parts are not an issue. I found a whole new set of bushings, bolts, and cups almost brand new on another Lesabre. My question is why did the steering go out?

Nothing looks broke under the car. No leaks. The wheel just spins freely. Will I be able to bolt this bad boy back together and be good or is there a deeper problem with the steering I'm obviously not seeing?

Thanks, Mike

 

[DetroitParkAve]

Don't know about the steering, but when you go to reattach the subframe, be sure to check the body mount points, mine rotted out and they were not fixable. If they look good I would least sand the surface rust off of them and put a cost of rustoleum on there to keep it from rusting out, good luck on your repair.

 

[Felon454]

The mount point are fine along with the subframe. Just the bushings were completely gone lol. No actual rust on the body or the frame. 😀

 

[redmondjp]

Since the steering rack is bolted to the subframe, and the steering column/shaft is bolted to the body, it's possible that when the subframe dropped, the coupling between the shaft and the rack separated. This would be inside the rubber boot and not visible. I'd check that first.

 

[Felon454]

Since the steering rack is bolted to the subframe, and the steering column/shaft is bolted to the body, it's possible that when the subframe dropped, the coupling between the shaft and the rack separated. This would be inside the rubber boot and not visible. I'd check that first.

Thats what my mechanic buddy just told me over the phone. The boot at the end of the column under the dash?? How to you get that black thing off?

 

[redmondjp]

No, I'd guess that it's separated at the universal joint which is on the engine side of the firewall (also inside a rubber boot). I haven't worked with mine so I can't give you any details on how to remove the boot, other than to study it - I seem to recall that it slips up and off of the steering rack input shaft housing.

 

[Enslow]

The boot at the lower end does indeed push up. It is secured fairly well, so I'd be concerned about damage to the intermediate shaft etc. Or that could be the paranoid in me talking.

 

[Felon454]

The boot at the lower end does indeed push up. It is secured fairly well, so I'd be concerned about damage to the intermediate shaft etc. Or that could be the paranoid in me talking.

Yeah the shaft that slides into the column fell out. I COULD NOT get that boot off. Said F it and cut it. I don't need it. lol.

Im gonna have to lower the subframe back down then have someone slowly jack it up while I slide that thing back in there. Ehhhhhhhhhhhh