13 replies to this topic

[colinu]

Before I drop US$135 on a new steering rack…

I have some slight play on my steering wheel before the steering engages (approx ½ inch left-right motion)... and it's coming from the rack (not the column or column clamp etc). Is it possible to strip/adjust/repair the rack to eliminate that? Kind of annoying as the rack is on 3years old with 10K miles on it

 

 

[cal844]

Check the U bolts are tight, also check that the rack is centered, are the track rod ends tight?

[colinu]

All of those are good and tight. The play is inside the rack (from what I can tell where the splined pin mates with the rack internals)

[cal844]

Have a look at the link below

http://www.theminifo...i/#entry3431743

[nicklouse]

But as there are no service parts available.

Just buy a new one.

[colinu]

Order placed
... but I'll strip the old one down to see what the root cause is

[AeroNotix]

All of those are good and tight. The play is inside the rack (from what I can tell where the splined pin mates with the rack internals)

How have you determined this?

[Spider]

But as there are no service parts available.

Just buy a new one.

 

While not all parts are available, all parts you would replace in a normal overhaul / adjustment are available.

 

It will most likely be the plastic bush on the passenger's side that needs replacing.

[colinu]

To answer AeroNotix... I determine this by removing steering column and getting an assistant to turn the splined pin by hand (yes it's that loose for I guess +/-5degrees), meanwhile I was under the car looking for movement at the ends of the rack (tierods). Nothing moving there so the play/slop must be inside the rack.

[tiger99]

It is just about possible that the pinion bearings are faulty. These may well be replaceable. Also, on most steering racks the yoke that holds the rack tightly in mesh with the pinion is adjustable by shims. So there may be some hope for the old rack.

However it should not have developed problems so soon. All too common these days due to bad manufacture. Or maybe they forgot to oil it? Racks used to (do they still?) come with the correct amount of oil already in them so you did not have to undo a gaiter.

Then there is the oil/grease controversy.... All I can say is that they were good for upwards of 100k miles with EP90 oil once upon a time.

[pete l]

I allways thought they had oil in them, my minis in the 80s used to leak. 

 

My MPI that I'm restoring has only a bit of grease on the inner joints. 

 

Surely this can't be as good ?

Edited by pete l, 19 April 2017 - 12:13 PM.

[Spider]

If they are greased, from my experience, they have a very short life. They were supplied like his at one point, it appears in an effort to overcome leaks.

 

Oil certainly is the shot, thy last a very long time then.

[AndyR]

If they are greased, from my experience, they have a very short life. They were supplied like his at one point, it appears in an effort to overcome leaks.

 

Oil certainly is the shot, thy last a very long time then.

 

If they are no longer oiled.  Can the greased newer ones just be oil or should they be stripped, cleaned of grease and then oiled?

[Spider]

 

If they are greased, from my experience, they have a very short life. They were supplied like his at one point, it appears in an effort to overcome leaks.

 

Oil certainly is the shot, thy last a very long time then.

 

If they are no longer oiled.  Can the greased newer ones just be oil or should they be stripped, cleaned of grease and then oiled?

 

 

Yes