Is my rack and pinion busted???
 

1985 Camry. 135k miles. Yes, only 135,000.

Hit a big bump with the driver side wheel about a month ago. Since then my alignment on the car has gotten horrible. I have to hold the wheel like 20 degrees to the left just to stay straight. Also, when I straighten the wheel (a veer off the road) or when I turn right, there is a major shaking and rattling. I don't think its the CV joint, it appears fine. Finally got a chance to look at things, and I found the driver side tire rod end rotates a bit, as you can see here. The passenger side does not.

Does this indicate a problem with the tire rod end? Or is the rack and pinion damaged...? :( The rubber boots on the CV are fine, the boots on the R&P are ripping.

I just need to keep this car running a few more months before I scrap it. Its seen its time, and its now a money pit. Suggestions please? :confused:

I'm pretty sure it will work out good during those months it's running.

One thing I didn't mention...

On the driver side, the cap that bolts the strut to the body of the car, under the hood, is completely broken. As in, the strut literally wobbles around like a top when I have the car raised.

BUT, the reason I did not mention this is because it's apparently been that way for years. I was informed a few months ago when I took it to the shop for water pump/timing belt replacement.

My brother, who owned the car a few years ago, told me he remembers the right side shaking quite a bit sometimes when he would go over a bump. I'm guessing its cuz the strut cap was broken back then.

So, I'm not certain that the broken strut mount is whats causing the alignment issue in this case. I mean, it didnt seem to affect for a long time. I guess, the recent bump I hit really hard could have just made it worse?

If the cap (upper strut mount) is broken it needs to be repaired. The upper strut mount attaches the strut to the chassis. The strut is part of the suspension system. If the mount is broken the steering knuckle (tire and rim) can move around too much which is very bad and unsafe!

Install a new upper strut mount.

You will need to remove the strut and decompress the coil spring to remove the upper mount.