plymouth 1987 turning is jerky

"KOG" wrote

Please be more specific. Which wheel - the steering wheel or one with a tire on it? What do you mean by "skip"? Jerk? Feel loose? Is it accompanied by a noise? How fast are you going? How tight are you turning when it happens? How often is "sometimes"?

Which wheel? = Steering wheel skip? = Feel loose? = yes noise? = a clunk How fast? = doesn't matter How tight are you turning when it happens? = very tight How often is "sometimes"? = always right or left. sorry for the confusion I a newbie :) I sense a fear about you all Mwhahahahaha.

Almost certainly a binding universal joint. Unless you're very attached to the car, it's probably not worth fixing, since the repair would be more expensive than the car is worth at any legitimate repair shop.

A backyard mechanic who gets parts from a wrecking yard might take it off your hands for a couple of hundred bucks as long as it runs well otherwise.

Can you get this "skip" effect if you turn the wheel full left to full right with the engine running and the car standing still?

DS

It is in the driveaxle, between the differential and the wheel. There is one on each side. Look underneath and they are covered by rubber boots (at least, they should be).

Their purpose is to allow power to be transmitted down the axle when you are turning and the power has to go through a bend.

Oof. Yes. The system's been contaminated and a great deal of damage may well have been done by glycol-based brake fluid.

DS

Break fluid is an apt description. :-)

Matt