Steering rack help please.

[Dan stag]

I noticed today that my steering rack has filled up one of the gaiters with fluid while I was underneath (read my last post) is it best to buy a recon rack or try a refurb kit. Some advise on removal an replacement would be much appreciated also. Is it a DIY job?

[martin]

Hiya Dan, it is as DIY prospect, though rebuilding a rack is a bit specialised, but before that, try one of the power steering leak stop products, the Wynns one worked for me, it can make older seals swell slightly and start to do they're job again. Martin.

[milothedog]

I noticed today that my steering rack has filled up one of the gaiters with fluid while I was underneath (read my last post) is it best to buy a recon rack or try a refurb kit. Some advise on removal an replacement would be much appreciated also. Is it a DIY job?

Hi Dan,

It's not that difficult to do if you are meticulous and keep it all nice and clean and use lots of ATF when putting it back together. The only pitfall is if when you strip it and any of the metal surfaces are worn then you are wasting your time.

The other important bit is setting up the pinion to rack clearance, if wrong it will be tight and not self centre and too loose will result in excessive play at the steering wheel.

What I did was buy an old Rack off ebay and rebuild it with a kit from LD parts. For me it has transformed the steering on the car. But in all honesty I was lucky with the used rack I bought off ebay which was a £20 Gamble.

Ian.

[davidhelencole]

Hi Dan

This one really is an easy one.I bought a recon one and did the job in about two hours (although I did have the advantage of the use of a friends ramp.

I used the locking nuts to show me the correct position for the new rack on the steering rods and went to a qwik fit to have the tracking done just to ensure I got it right.

I found it really easy in fact a doddle.

Dave

[ChasR]

Changing the rack itself is simple.

Regarding the rebuilding aspect I plan to sift through a few threads and see what to do (like a couple of posters here I have taken a gamble with a £20 rack).

I would not mind buying a recon rack, but on previous cars (mainly a Ford Escort (well, 2 if you include a friends) and a Mk3 Mondeo) the racks you get from the refurbishers seem to be no better if not worse than what you get from a scrapyard after literally 2 months use (the first two leaked, the Mondeo item developed play.

For this reason, on my current daily, I kept the rack off a similar car I had but the rack has done almost 400,000 miles. It still has less play (if any) when compared to the recon items I have seen. I guess I could buy a new rack if the time comes again, but at £700 for a rack on a car barely worth £1.5k....).

[Guest]

I was really disappointed with the recon rack that I bought. From finger light steering, I then got sluggish and heavy steering and it tugged as I turned the wheel. I paid top money for it too, thinking that I would get the best. Advice here was to grease it and that improved things a bit. I was out in it today and it is definitely better (or I'm getting used to it), but it is nothing like before. I still haven't sent the old one back and I am tempted to buy a kit and fix it.

Again, advice here was that a lot of recon kits can be dodgy and if you have a good un (relatively!), then overhaul it.

More advice here was to centralise the steering wheel and indicator mechanism at the same time (there was a post on this yesterday I think) - mine was way out.

[Dan stag]

Thanks for all the advise guys. I think I'll try and recon my own rack with a seal kit. Does anyone know if there is a pic anywhere published of the insides of a stripped rack?

[flying farmer]

I rebuilt a rack a couple of years ago for the same reason as you. I only did half the job, ie the main seals rather than the bit at the bottom of the steering shaft, as some of the nylon rings looked rather difficult to deal with, and as it wasn't broke I didn't want to fix it until it was
So far all is working well, and I still have the rest of the rebuild kit should I need it
Neil

[Dan stag]

Thanks for advise everyone. Ordered the rebuild kit today. Wish me luck.

[martin]

Thanks for advise everyone. Ordered the rebuild kit today. Wish me luck.

Yes indeed, good luck, more power to you Martin.