2009 Aveo Sedan Steering rack noise? Anyone have this?

[Ljungman]

So the Misses told me today she noticed there is a knock/pop noise in our Aveo. I'm currently an autotech at KIA and was with Ford for a few years before that, so drive it and hear the knock and pop which is pretty loud and I put it on my ramp at work to check it out.

I can find no issue with any front end components (ball joints, bearings, tie rods, endlinks, struts/mounts or cv axles), however when I move the front wheels from left to right I get a loud noise from inside the steering rack assembly. It's like something is loose in there and makes a "spring-board" kinda sound when the wheels hit the limit of their left/right movements while on the ramp. I can put my hand on the rack and feel it vibrate when this happends so it's definatly in the rack.


Anyone elese have this issue? It's steering just fine and I don't want to replace the rack if this may be by some small chance normal. Car has 87,000 kms on it right now.