a while back my rack started leaking and my gaiters were swollen to bursting so on impulse bought a new recon one off the bay £109 delivered 12 mths guarantee ,stripped out the old fitted the new and it was notchy to say the least ! rang the supplier he sent out another following week end I stripped out the bad one and fitted the new recon replacement and while I was at it my column which I rebuilt over xmas. all fitted and it to was a bit notchy took it around the block and it almost locked up 
really angry now so this week end I stripped the t/r ends off the hub assy one at a time the struts were free so took the rack out and found the lower shaft was fine but the column was stiff at mid point and locking at times turns out it was the poxy new locking ring that replaces the spragg type washer had moved allowing the shaft to somehow drop on assembly and the uj in the shaft was locking in the column frame where it supports the steering lock and potentially jamming solid !! well I wasn't convinced when I saw this part after purchase now even less so ,as there is plenty of space I will turn up a deeper ring and larger o/d so I can get some proper grub screws in there and hold it better I may even dimple the shaft when I set it up to make sure it cant move again . I know many have this device fitted and haven't had problems but I would advise checking this as the consequences' of it coming loose are dire
I should of bought the rack from ld parts and or even overhauled my own but all this was designed to save me precious time and ive spent ages doing it very annoyed I didn't go with my gut feeling and buy from lad and bin the new lock ring for a new spragg washer .
steve
really angry now so this week end I stripped the t/r ends off the hub assy one at a time the struts were free so took the rack out and found the lower shaft was fine but the column was stiff at mid point and locking at times turns out it was the poxy new locking ring that replaces the spragg type washer had moved allowing the shaft to somehow drop on assembly and the uj in the shaft was locking in the column frame where it supports the steering lock and potentially jamming solid !! well I wasn't convinced when I saw this part after purchase now even less so ,as there is plenty of space I will turn up a deeper ring and larger o/d so I can get some proper grub screws in there and hold it better I may even dimple the shaft when I set it up to make sure it cant move again . I know many have this device fitted and haven't had problems but I would advise checking this as the consequences' of it coming loose are dire I should of bought the rack from ld parts and or even overhauled my own but all this was designed to save me precious time and ive spent ages doing it very annoyed I didn't go with my gut feeling and buy from lad and bin the new lock ring for a new spragg washer .steve
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