owner of 1996 dodge intrepid. while going about 5 mi / hr in parking lot, heard loud clunk. then no steering control!!. steering wheel became extreemly loose, but tires stayed straight. I'm turing left, but car moved straight forward. (ThankGod i was pretty much lined up to a parking spot.) My husband & his brother looked & found the bolts from the steering arms where sheered off where they go into the rack & pinion.
ANYBODY here of this before??? any in-expensive fixes??? or am I scr---d??
thanks! -r t

 

That's crazy, lol Never heard that before.

 

Actually I'm quite serious. Blessings that I wasnt in traffic or on the highway when it happened.
A too-busy mechanic friend of Jim's (my husband) was going to see if he could tap the bolts out, or if we needed to get a whole new rack & pinion (am i saying that right??) - But so far, he hasnt had time & we had to get it towed home.- Now it just sits in the yard... begging for attention.
I'm driving our other car, but miss my Dodge!!..
The mechanic said he had a friend ask if they had ever heard of those bolts snapping ; he hadnt believed it at the time. Now he says that since he's seen it with his own eyes, he knows the other mechanic wasnt pulling his leg.

ANYWAY... If anyone knows about this: Do you think the bolts can be replaced? -would it be reliable if we went that route? or need new rack pinion?? Or should we play it safe & get new anyway??
Thanks! -R todd