steering rack
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Discussion

bernhund

Original Poster:

3,798 posts

222 months

Sunday 28th February 2010
quotequote all
Having replaced the top ball joints at the front of my 2.5 to stop a very unpleasant squeak, the orrible noise has returned with avengeance 2 months later!
A couple of years ago, Plans told me the steering rack was playing up and that they have patched it up. What that meant I've no idea coz I didn't realise there was a problem in the first place. However, assuming no porkies were being told, I'm now thinking perhaps it's the cause of the noise. Trouble is, having disconnected track rod ends etc to try to single out the noise, it all behaves ok. It all has to be assembled and under weight before it starts again.
So, reconditioned '94 Scorpio rack on ebay for £100 sounds good to me, but is it the right one? Can't remember where I got the Scorpio info from in the past though. Also, are the bottom ball joints Rover 100 aswell as top ones?
All help and suggestions welcomed . Thankyou

Jim O.

486 posts

226 months

Sunday 28th February 2010
quotequote all
When does the squeak occur? Can you reproduce the problem by bouncing the front end, or does the car have to be moving? Does it only happen when you're turning the steering wheel, or does it happen when the steering wheel is steady? Etc., etc., etc....

Depending on the squeak, I'd think the lower ball joints or the tie rod ends to be more likely candidates.

Edited by Jim O. on Sunday 28th February 23:04

jdearden

1,746 posts

206 months

Sunday 28th February 2010
quotequote all
Iv just done lower ball joint. Rite pig of job. Took wishbone off and gave to plans to press new one in. I got it from peter somthing sports. He has a add in the classifieds under parts for noble. About 25 quid. It then had to have 1 mm taken off as was too big. Plans did all this. I then refitted and all sorted.

Stella Artois

556 posts

229 months

Sunday 28th February 2010
quotequote all
jdearden said:
I got it from peter somthing sports. He has a add in the classifieds under parts for noble.
www.petersmithsportscars.com

I think is the one.

Edited by Stella Artois on Sunday 28th February 22:45

jdearden

1,746 posts

206 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
Stella Artois said:
jdearden said:
I got it from peter somthing sports. He has a add in the classifieds under parts for noble.
www.petersmithsportscars.com

I think is the one.

Edited by Stella Artois on Sunday 28th February 22:45
thats the one. cheers stella.

bernhund

Original Poster:

3,798 posts

222 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
Jim O. said:
When does the squeak occur? Can you reproduce the problem by bouncing the front end, or does the car have to be moving? Does it only happen when you're turning the steering wheel, or does it happen when the steering wheel is steady? Etc., etc., etc....

Depending on the squeak, I'd think the lower ball joints or the tie rod ends to be more likely candidates.

Edited by Jim O. on Sunday 28th February 23:04
The squeak occurs both stationary and moving. If driving very slowly on a smooth road, even the slightest bump encourages the squeak. The tiniest movement of the steering does too. Recently my local mechanic threw a load of grease under the gaitors and all went quiet for a week. Now it's back the same! Do we know what car the lower ball joint is from? Would grease be able to get into the ball joint to lubricate it?

Jim O.

486 posts

226 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2010
quotequote all
bernhund said:
The squeak occurs both stationary and moving. If driving very slowly on a smooth road, even the slightest bump encourages the squeak. The tiniest movement of the steering does too. Recently my local mechanic threw a load of grease under the gaitors and all went quiet for a week. Now it's back the same! Do we know what car the lower ball joint is from? Would grease be able to get into the ball joint to lubricate it?
If the problem is reproducible while stationary, I'd suggest disconnecting the tie rod ends from the front uprights, then bouncing the car. If the squeak is still there, replace the lower ball joints. If not, then check the tie rod ends by moving the tapered pins to see if that causes the noise. Move the inner tie rod ends, and move the steering wheel - should be fairly easy to isolate the cause of the squeak when everything is separated.