Our Fusion has this clunk that comes from the steering rack. The noise almost sounds like a gearbox with play. I can only replicate it when the car is still, and I shimmy the wheel back and forth quickly. I'm not sure why I ever did this in the first place, but it's been like this for awhile. Today I finally got around to taking some things apart, and checked for bad parts. Both inner and both outer tie rods are good - no play, no broken boots or bellows, no clunks. I disconnected them on the outer end to test, so the parts were unloaded. Even when the tie rods are hanging free, the noise is still present. I checked the steering shaft/joints, and those too are good.
What I did see, where the shaft stub comes through the floor, is that it will wiggle back and forth the tiniest bit if you try and move it. Is this normal? I really have no experience with power steering racks, and how much play they should have. Rack mounts are in good shape also, FWIW. This is also a fully electric rack. Car drives and steers fine, with seemingly no play or noise under normal driving.
What I did see, where the shaft stub comes through the floor, is that it will wiggle back and forth the tiniest bit if you try and move it. Is this normal? I really have no experience with power steering racks, and how much play they should have. Rack mounts are in good shape also, FWIW. This is also a fully electric rack. Car drives and steers fine, with seemingly no play or noise under normal driving.