Chrysler 300M new steering rack

I brought my 99 300M in last week for some issues including a mild steering
clunk. Dealer replaced some bushings under my extended warranty. I did not
think it solved the problem so I brought it back in and now they are
replacing the steering rack. Glad I brought it in because my service
agreement ends next week. Dealer said otherwise the repair would be about a
grand.

 

No you wouldnt have, If you took it back a week later and the warranty was
out. The dealer would have fixed it, It would have been considered a prior
history complaint when the contract was still active

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

How much was the extended warranty?

 

About a grand. I've doubled my money's worth, at least, because of the bad
window motors and regulators and some other bushings that were replaced.

 

Actually I probably tripled my money from the service agreement. Front
struts and some bushings were replaced a while ago and each window was fixed
multiple times. Sure hope the last fix worked.

 

I have the 7/70 but is there another warranty to purchase?

--
"Now Phoebe Snow direct can go
from thirty-third to Buffalo.
From Broadway bright the tubes run right
Into the Road of Anthracite"
Erie - Lackawanna

 

If you are referring ot the 7/70 power train warranty yes, there would be
another if you wanted steering and things like that covered

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

I think the one I bought was called maximum care with a $50 deductible.
Covers everything but wear out items, wind noise and rattles.

 

I wonder if it's still available to purchase? I will call the dealership
tomorrow.

--
"Now Phoebe Snow direct can go
from thirty-third to Buffalo.
From Broadway bright the tubes run right
Into the Road of Anthracite"
Erie - Lackawanna

 

Art,

Did you purchase it at the time of the sale?

--
"Now Phoebe Snow direct can go
from thirty-third to Buffalo.
From Broadway bright the tubes run right
Into the Road of Anthracite"
Erie - Lackawanna

 

You have to purchase it during the 3 year warranty. It is $200 cheaper if
you purchase it during year one.

 

By the way prices are negoitable. And only buy the manufacturers service
agreement. 3rd party service agreements often have loopholes or they may go
out of business when you need it.

 

So I picked up the car today. Steering felt much tighter with the new rack
but the slight clunk that led me to bring it in and led the dealer to change
steering rack and bushings is still there. Front tires are fairly worn.
Maybe I'll try new front tires.

 

Tires won't cause a "clunk." Does it happen on cornering, or when
hitting a bump with one wheel? Probably stabilizer bar end-links.

 

It is more like a light clunk feeling in the steering wheel. You feel it
more than hear it. You feel it sometimes when turning the wheel one way or
the other. Feels like a slight shift in the front end. It is not
consistent though. Handling is otherwise fine.

 

Some possibilities (some of which you may have already replaced):

Control arm bushings
Inner tie rod bushings
Sway bar end links (mentioned by someone else)
Sway bar bushings
Rack/rack mounts
Engine cradle bushings
Struts and related parts (upper mount/bearing assy.)
Outer tie rods
Control arm ball joints (and the control arm stud-to-knuckle joint
loose/worn)
Tension strut bushings (to cradle and to control arm)

Anyone else feel free to add to the list, but that's all the parts I can
think of.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

With the car on the ground, engine running, I had my wife move the steering
wheel back and forth a bit and looked under the engine. Saw nothing
unusual. I could feel the clunk when I put my hand on the front fenders.
It almost seemed like it was from contact between the front end components
and the rubber panels near the holes in the inner fenders but it seemed to
me that the rubber panels were light and intended to be making contact with
the steering components running thru the holes in the front inner fenders.
Is it possible that they get stiffer with age and give a clunky sound and
feeling? I assume they are to block dirt getting past the holes in the
inner fender.