Steering Rack Bushing Rplacement - How long should it take?

[johnnythespider]

http://triumphstagproject.blogspot.ch/2013/04/steering-rack-bushings.html

Hi Guys

I read here on the above blog a neat way of removing old bushings and replacing with new.

Mentioned this to my mechanic guy this am, as I am having my steering rack replaced - MOT failure. And suggested he could replace the bushes for me for some new Superflex type Blue ones I got from rimmers.
Not unless you want to pay for 3hrs labour - was the response. Apparently he said they are a real pain. Is this the case and if I do myself how long should it take and any notes as to a procedure / method of doing / silicone grease to help etc etc.
thanks

Jonathan

ps. car failed on rack and steering play - not in and out, but left to right - worried now as guy seems to think the rack replacement will solve this but not so sure.

[KOY 23]

Did mine as per your link, quite straightforward. Does your mechanic mean 3 hours total to fit rack and rebush? If just bushes, how many tea breaks has he included. If its play between the front wheels, check inner and outer track rod ends, the inners are in the gaiter and easy to replace. If its play between rack and steering wheel, then a "new" rack is needed. Watch the quality on reconditioned racks.

[richardthestag]

yep did it like your link, not sure whether i even jacked it off the ground. get some threaded rod and nuts from B&Q and a nice big socket. the steering rack ones come out fairly easily. installing new was done in minutes.

Only thing I would say is make sure you loosen the pinch bolts on the intermediate steering shaft before you tighten the rack to its new mounts then wind the steering back and forth a couple of times before nipping up the pinch bolts again.

maybe it is 3h, dunno, not difficult to do yourself to be honest.

[johnnythespider]

He meant 3 hers to rebus!!!
Ran out of time this week and needed the car for tattoo show tomorrow.
Funny how my steering play, which was evident before the rack was swapped out and mentioned as a failure point, was still evident after the rack had been swapped out, which is now an mot pass.
Anyway, bushes will be changed later by me as per the suggested way above. Any pointers to getting the new bushes back in?

[KOY 23]

Plenty of lube.

[DJT]

Plenty of lube.

Your solution for many things.............

[Arbman Al]

Plenty of lube.

Your solution for many things.............

[Motorsport Micky]

I've just put Poly bushes in the steering rack mounts and that took me a while with the rack already stripped out, the bushes are like greased pigs trying to pull them in. if you are doing it for a living I wouldn't like to quote less than 3 hours.

Micky

[73stagman]

I've just put Poly bushes in the steering rack mounts and that took me a while with the rack already stripped out, the bushes are like greased pigs trying to pull them in. if you are doing it for a living I wouldn't like to quote less than 3 hours.

Micky

Me either.
Ive done two sets and they were both the same. Needed doing though absolutely rotten with leaky oil and crud. From memory they came out easily enough with some threaded bars and carefully chosen sockets!. Replaced with polybushes that squirm all over the place!

[KOY 23]

Yup, especially wood burners

[johnnythespider]

It now transpires that my poly bushes that were to take 3 hrs to fit were not returned to me by the garage. I was a little peaved and called them back. They couldnt find then. The mechanic who dealt with my car had finished for the weekend - here we I thought. Got a phone call this am. Apparently my friendly garage apprentice decided to fit then onto the car as part of the rack install. RESULT! So didnt take an extra 3hrs to do. Plus got them fitted for free. Happy days.

[richardthestag]

now that is a result

[Robin Searle]

I suppose I am extending the thread 'replacing the bushes' but the bushes that I am requiring info on are the ones in both ends of the steering rack that the steering arms slide through.Was at a Toronto Triumph meeting in Elicottville NY this past weekend when I heard a thump coming from the LHS front wheel,managed to find a garage that put it up on the hoist and he noticed the front wheel moved up and down. Slid the steering rubber back and found the nylon/poly bush had slid to the end of the arm,slid it back and they siliconed in in place,with the result that despite a five hour wait came out when making a turn.This morning I repeated the sliding the bush back in but for the life of me could not figure out what held the bush in place ??? Decided that the only way to fix it was drill two holes 90 degrees apart through the rack wall in the middle channel where the clamp goes to hold the rubber sleeve in place, screw two self tappers through the wall directly into the bush. This worked 100% so checked the RHS and found the same so repeated my fix,then did 12 lock to lock steering motions and snug as a bug in a rug.

Now my question is what the heck is supposed to hold the nylon/poly bush in place at the two ends, any help would be gratefully received.

Thanks Robin Searle
r.searle@cottagecountry.net

[jleyton]

Hi Robin,

This is the bush you're referring to I presume ?

DSCN2397.jpg

















If so, they are not fixed in place but when on full lock they will be pushed back into place.

However I perhaps have slightly bad news for you as those bushes shouldn't really provide any real support to the rack. When mine were out, as in that picture, the rack remained dead central with no play and perfectly aligned (so it was possible to just push the bush back in).

There should not be any noticeable up or down movement of the rack there, even with the bushes removed. If you do have movement then I think you'll need to investigate further into the rack, even though fixing the bushes will give you a temporary fix.

Good luck.

Cheers

Julian

[Motorsport Micky]

Julian,
Surely that bush is not meant to travel up down the shaft...is it ? If so what is it's purpose, does it act as an end stop or buffer ? wouldn't it be best contained within the end of the rack ? Does it do any harm to let it roam about inside the rubber boot given that at full lock it will be pressed back into the rack housing ?so many questions so little time.

Micky