I have an '02 2.5RS and after a bad experience at the beach with sand and getting stuck, I've noticed a fair amount of play in my steering wheel. The tire pressure is fine. The car has been aligned. My mechanic has looked over the suspension parts and said they're fine. I've switched out the stock steering rack bushings for Whitline bushings (that helped some). I changed the tires (that also helped some). I've check the inner and outer tie rod ends. Everything looks fine, but the steering is still loose compared to before my incident at the beach. It is especially knocked around when I hit bumps or drive in the snow. It can be very hard to controal (esp. in snow). Though I know its a sealed component, is it possible I could have somehow screwed up the rack itself and would need to replace it? Does anybody know how to diagnose a steering rack issue? Thanks for the help!!

 

check the wheels for play. get on jack or lift see if either wheel is shaky should be stiff. check your tie rod ends for damage. notice any noise like creaking when you turn?
when the tie rod broke it was crazy in the road. also wheel bearing cuod cuase crazy shiz.
i just had my impreza alinged and found i had broken camber bolt. also lots creaking noises they comeing from my busted wheel bearing.

 

Thanks for the ideas! No, there's no creaking sounds coming from the steering. The steering is just very loose. Also, the car corners and the like. Its just feels a little wobbly sometimes. Also, the steering is knocked around quite a bit by bumps and so forth. There doesn't seem to be much tension in the steering wheel like there used to be. I'll put it up on a jack and play around. If the tires feel loose, what is that? Thanks!