I recently purchased a 89 RS with a 2.8L and an automatic tranny.
The car has a popping sound and vibration that seems to be coming from the driver side fender.

I have checked for interference with the fenders and found none. If the car is in park and I turn the wheel it will pop once after I reach a certain point and then will act normally. When I turn the wheel back the other direction it will pop after it passes the same point, but no more after that. It seems to shudder worse when the steering wheel is turned to the right. If I turn the steering wheel really slowly there is no pop in either direction.

When I drive the car and turn the wheel it continues to pop until the wheel is turned back straight, unless it is a really gentle turn.

I am completely lost and would truly appreciate any help. Thanks in advance.

 

Could this be frame cracks around the steering box?

 

have you tried greasing the steering bar? i dont know the exact name but it turns the wheels and it has little grease fittings that you push a grease gun on to and pump it until grease comes out the top. this made my car steer smoother and the only pop i have now is from the plastic shroud by the steering wheel itself. and thats only when it is tilted a certain way. just thought i would mention that. hope this helps.

 

I had a 91 formula that was doing that and the outer tie rods wre bad. needed replaced . the place that replaced them said that the tie rods were so bad that it was dangerous to drive the car that way.