Steering rack lubrication

[steve-v8s]

Whilst re bushing the front end I changed the steering rack gaiters and noticed that there is a grease nipple at either end of the rack. Having failed to find any reference to them in Steve’s book, I refer to PH, the other font of all knowledge. Are these for a routine squirt of grease or are they purely for assembly ?

[wixer]

I've also tried to grease the rack using the grease nipples but without much success. I also changed all my suspension bushes at the end of last year and while the track rod ends were disconnected, I noticed that the rack "chattered" when pulled from side to side. After some consultation with a couple of guys at work I removed the yolk, which is under the small plate on top of the rack just above where the pinion is situated. From here I poked grease in using a screwdriver, while moving the rack from side to side. It took about half an hour but I eventually filled it full of grease and re-fitted the yolk and the rack was far smoother in it's operation.
Hope this is of some help.

[griffter]

Peninsula appear to have greased mine last service - at least there are large blobs of grease over the nipples to stop dirt getting in - I assume therefore they were greased as well.

[RAW-SEWedge]

If it's anything like mine then the near side one is next to useless. Once it is tightened up it becomes impossible to get grease through it. This is probably why there are big gobs of grease on the nipple an probably none in the rack unfortunaly.