Steering rack play - do "they all do that sir"?
Discussion
My 2003 ex-Roadsport B car had a little steering play when I bought it. I bought a new steering wheel QR, which sorted half the play, and tried tightening the grub screw on the rack, which did not sort the other half. Must be a worn rack, I thought. I bought a new rack. This rack was exactly the same as the one I had taken out.
With the front wheels in the air, when I nip the grub screw up as far as I can before the steering action itself starts to tighten in certain places when the steering wheel is turned, I'm still left with around 15mm of play side to side at the top of the steering wheel.
As an experiment, I tried tightening the screw until I had no play. The result was a rack that felt like it had welded itself together.
To me, it feels like an incredibly poorly made steering rack. Unassisted Loti don't suffer this problem; the cheapest Daewoo does not suffer this problem.
I've driven a large handful of Caterhams, and as far as my admittedly hit and miss memory can recall, every one has had a degree of play in the steering.
My questions are: am I missing something? Did I get a duff rack? Are all Caterham racks like this, and frankly, if they are, why are there not more people on internet forums whinging about it?
Thanks for your time chaps.
With the front wheels in the air, when I nip the grub screw up as far as I can before the steering action itself starts to tighten in certain places when the steering wheel is turned, I'm still left with around 15mm of play side to side at the top of the steering wheel.
As an experiment, I tried tightening the screw until I had no play. The result was a rack that felt like it had welded itself together.
To me, it feels like an incredibly poorly made steering rack. Unassisted Loti don't suffer this problem; the cheapest Daewoo does not suffer this problem.
I've driven a large handful of Caterhams, and as far as my admittedly hit and miss memory can recall, every one has had a degree of play in the steering.
My questions are: am I missing something? Did I get a duff rack? Are all Caterham racks like this, and frankly, if they are, why are there not more people on internet forums whinging about it?
Thanks for your time chaps.
There shouldn't be any play in the rack, have you checked the other connections from the rack to the steering wheel? There is often a little play between QR steering boss and upper column, there could be play between upper and lower columns (make sure the clamp is fitted correctly) and I've even seen a steering wheel loosely fitted to the boss before!
15mm play is too much. You can normally feel a small amount of play, particularly with a QR wheel, but that is only 1 or 2mm at the wheel rim.
My guess is that the grub screw in the joint between upper and lower columns has worn a bit, or worn a slight dent in the lower column where it clamps on. 15mm of play at the wheel would be caused if you had just 0.2mm play at the grub screw... It is cheap to replace.
Steve
My guess is that the grub screw in the joint between upper and lower columns has worn a bit, or worn a slight dent in the lower column where it clamps on. 15mm of play at the wheel would be caused if you had just 0.2mm play at the grub screw... It is cheap to replace.
Steve
Thanks for all the replies. I've just had another good look at this; seems I must have been wildly exaggerating the play, possibly as a result of being miffed that I'd just bought a new rack for it. First world problems, etc.
Having actually measured the truly 'free' play, it amounts to 7mm at the rim of the standard-size Caterham wheel. I've had a chance to gently waggle the steering wheels of a few Caterhams at a dealer recently, and this amount of play doesn't seem uncommon. Of the >10 cars I tried, not one had zero play.
I've checked the UJ on the column, and rechecked all column mounts and the grub screw clamp, and they're all fine. With the bonnet off, this 7mm of completely free play can be seen extending into the steering rack, ie past the clamp and the UJ. As previously mentioned, it's possible to lose nearly all of the play, but only if I do the large grub screw on the rack up so tight that the rack binds (with the front wheels off the ground, the steering effort virtually doubles and goes notchy and inconsistent). 7mm is the minimum I can achieve without any steering corruption in terms of its consistency in feel across the sweep of the rack.
Can I just ask the experienced masses again if there is an alternative rack available for these cars, or, for example, perhaps a Quaife rack that can be made to fit. I do not think less than a mm of play at the rim of a very small diameter steering wheel with a solidly mounted rack and pinion system is unrealistic and I would really like to 'fix' the issue.
Having actually measured the truly 'free' play, it amounts to 7mm at the rim of the standard-size Caterham wheel. I've had a chance to gently waggle the steering wheels of a few Caterhams at a dealer recently, and this amount of play doesn't seem uncommon. Of the >10 cars I tried, not one had zero play.
I've checked the UJ on the column, and rechecked all column mounts and the grub screw clamp, and they're all fine. With the bonnet off, this 7mm of completely free play can be seen extending into the steering rack, ie past the clamp and the UJ. As previously mentioned, it's possible to lose nearly all of the play, but only if I do the large grub screw on the rack up so tight that the rack binds (with the front wheels off the ground, the steering effort virtually doubles and goes notchy and inconsistent). 7mm is the minimum I can achieve without any steering corruption in terms of its consistency in feel across the sweep of the rack.
Can I just ask the experienced masses again if there is an alternative rack available for these cars, or, for example, perhaps a Quaife rack that can be made to fit. I do not think less than a mm of play at the rim of a very small diameter steering wheel with a solidly mounted rack and pinion system is unrealistic and I would really like to 'fix' the issue.
The play comes from the pinion and rack not meshing to the standard you might expect on a modern car. Tightening the large grub screw does not remove it, but just binds the rack and pinion making it less noticeable. The design is pretty old, but has worked well and stood the test of time.
The play is of no consequence when the car is moving as the continuous inputs from wheels settle it in the center of your steering input.
The play is of no consequence when the car is moving as the continuous inputs from wheels settle it in the center of your steering input.
My 07 car with 10k had play in the steering which made it feel dangerous at speed on a bumpy road. I got it all out by very careful adjustment of the grub screw in the rack.
You should now read the thread 'caterham used price's'
Caterham are neither well designed or built and are way overpriced. That said they are just the best fun car I have ever owned or driven..............
You should now read the thread 'caterham used price's'
Caterham are neither well designed or built and are way overpriced. That said they are just the best fun car I have ever owned or driven..............
mike150 said:
Caterham are neither well designed or built and are way overpriced. That said they are just the best fun car I have ever owned or driven..............
I think my Caterham was very well designed, built fairly well (by me) and although fairly expensive at the time has been good value over the last 27 years.I would agree, I think the Caterham is pretty well engineered. I have built an early Westfield and maintained a Lotus Elan Sprint, and while I was building the Caterham I was impressed with quite a few design features, and never had an "Oh no, I would never have made it like that" moment as I have had with other specialist cars.
I won't argue with them being over priced though. When I built my Sigma Roadsport, it cost 20K and I think it would have definitely been profitable for them to sell it at 17K. Now the equivalent is £23 and I wouldn't buy it at that price.
I won't argue with them being over priced though. When I built my Sigma Roadsport, it cost 20K and I think it would have definitely been profitable for them to sell it at 17K. Now the equivalent is £23 and I wouldn't buy it at that price.
My Dad says the rack looks like old Ford Escort, but any resemblance is probably coincidental because for a long time now the racks have been made by British Motorsport Engineering firm Titan.
In my extensive Caterham steering wiggling experience, most of the play is in the quick release (an unnecessary gimmick for most Caterham owners IMO) and the remaining play can usually be removed by adjusting or replacing the inner track rod ball joint shoes and adjusting the grub screw.
That said the rack casing is aluminium and there is no bearing material between the rack and the bearing so if the casing has worn, or the rack has been bent, it's new rack time.
Haven't seen play in a new rack.
In my extensive Caterham steering wiggling experience, most of the play is in the quick release (an unnecessary gimmick for most Caterham owners IMO) and the remaining play can usually be removed by adjusting or replacing the inner track rod ball joint shoes and adjusting the grub screw.
That said the rack casing is aluminium and there is no bearing material between the rack and the bearing so if the casing has worn, or the rack has been bent, it's new rack time.
Haven't seen play in a new rack.
HustleRussell said:
most of the play is in the quick release (an unnecessary gimmick for most Caterham owners IMO)
The quick release adds an additional layer of security when leaving the car parked up, I certainly don't consider it a gimmick. It also makes ingress and egress with the hood / half hood attached much easier.TheHoof said:
The quick release adds an additional layer of security when leaving the car parked up, I certainly don't consider it a gimmick. It also makes ingress and egress with the hood / half hood attached much easier.
That is of course absolutely true, I did say most, maybe 'most' is the wrong word. I'm pretty sure it's the case for many though. I've not seen a Caterham quick release free from play. In fact whenever I've tried one I've always been glad that I could get along fine without one.
However if you need the security they are useful and if you can't easily get in and out of the car without one they are of course indispensable.
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