Discussion
When I move my wheels while standing underneath my car there is a definate squelching noise comming from the steering rack that I haven't noticed before.
Also when the car is on the ground I have an inch of play at the top of the steering wheel before the wheels move.
I'm starting to talk myself into having a rack problem.
Any comments, or anyone know which car the steering rack comes from??
Also when the car is on the ground I have an inch of play at the top of the steering wheel before the wheels move.
I'm starting to talk myself into having a rack problem.
Any comments, or anyone know which car the steering rack comes from??
Okay get two wires and strip both ends. Hold one end of each wire in your mouth so that the bare bit of each wire touches each side of your tongue.......
Just kidding, I thought I had a steering rack problem, I took it to the garage who were going to spend some time stripping the steering down, so before that, I took the badge out of me steering wheel and tightened the nut, no steering rack problem, cant help on the squeeling, have you had a look arond the engine bay for wild life
Just kidding, I thought I had a steering rack problem, I took it to the garage who were going to spend some time stripping the steering down, so before that, I took the badge out of me steering wheel and tightened the nut, no steering rack problem, cant help on the squeeling, have you had a look arond the engine bay for wild life
Could be the woodruff key on the PAS shaft has sheared. Hope not, because if you cant repair the existing one, it could be a £1k bill. The earlier cars were prone to this, and so because of this, the key was made bigger on the later models.
Also check bushes/ UV joints etc...
>> Edited by kojak69 on Monday 27th September 17:49
Also check bushes/ UV joints etc...
>> Edited by kojak69 on Monday 27th September 17:49
Okay, one at a time gents.
Oil should make no difference to the free play. Even if you were to shut the PAS off completely there should be no play.
Checked all the UJ's, play seems to be at the rack itself.
The wires on the tongue was a REAL suggestion. I have used this many times when I was stuck on the road without a meter. As long as you make sure there is no possiblity of the wires touching you are safe.
Steering wheel is on a splined shaft on the boss. To be able to turn it you would need to have removed the wheel a fair amount!
>> Edited by Julian64 on Monday 27th September 17:56
Oil should make no difference to the free play. Even if you were to shut the PAS off completely there should be no play.
Checked all the UJ's, play seems to be at the rack itself.
The wires on the tongue was a REAL suggestion. I have used this many times when I was stuck on the road without a meter. As long as you make sure there is no possiblity of the wires touching you are safe.
Steering wheel is on a splined shaft on the boss. To be able to turn it you would need to have removed the wheel a fair amount!
>> Edited by Julian64 on Monday 27th September 17:56
Has your steering gone stiff?
Just going back to the woodruff key thing.
If it is this, and i'm not saying it is, if its the worst scenario, check this thread i've just found. Joolz has got a mod for it if you are on a tight budget.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=67916&f=6&h=0&hw=woodruff
Just going back to the woodruff key thing.
If it is this, and i'm not saying it is, if its the worst scenario, check this thread i've just found. Joolz has got a mod for it if you are on a tight budget.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=67916&f=6&h=0&hw=woodruff
I had what sounds to be the same problem and to cure it i tightened the clamp bolts on the universal joints (2 off) by taking the drivers side front wheel off and then all is clear from then on.The bolts were loose and when tightened all was OK. Hope yours is the same as it cost nothing and is easy to do if you have used a spanner before.
Nope afraid the two UJ's are rock solid. Initially I thought the play was the fault of the shocks, and got nitrons.
Strangely this cured the tramlining almost completely.
Unlikely to be anything on the wheels as they are six foot above the ground while I'm moving them
I assume the rack cogs themselves are packed with grease, and therefore not too worried by the squelch.
If I have the car above ground the wheels move instantly. If I have the car on the floor I get the 1 inch either side of TDC on the steering wheel before real wheel movement.
I am itching to take the rack apart to find out why, but according to the Cerb workshop manual I have to take the cooling system apart first. Now sods law says some all of the clips will bust and some of the pipes will need replacing when I do it.
I have always found in the past if I have easy access to a new rack (from a cheap source) nothing will go wrong.
If the rack costs a fortune or is difficult to get hold of, everything will go wrong.
I don't mind doing it but I rather wouldn't do it to be told later that the free play I'm experiencing is completely normal.
So straw poll. Sitting in your car how much free play do you have before the front wheels start to move (engine off).
Strangely this cured the tramlining almost completely.
Unlikely to be anything on the wheels as they are six foot above the ground while I'm moving them
I assume the rack cogs themselves are packed with grease, and therefore not too worried by the squelch.
If I have the car above ground the wheels move instantly. If I have the car on the floor I get the 1 inch either side of TDC on the steering wheel before real wheel movement.
I am itching to take the rack apart to find out why, but according to the Cerb workshop manual I have to take the cooling system apart first. Now sods law says some all of the clips will bust and some of the pipes will need replacing when I do it.
I have always found in the past if I have easy access to a new rack (from a cheap source) nothing will go wrong.
If the rack costs a fortune or is difficult to get hold of, everything will go wrong.
I don't mind doing it but I rather wouldn't do it to be told later that the free play I'm experiencing is completely normal.
So straw poll. Sitting in your car how much free play do you have before the front wheels start to move (engine off).
Julian,
Stupid question but does the wheel feel relatively stiff to move but have no affect on the wheels or does the wheel move without any resistance when having no affect on the wheels?
The reason I ask is that I tried to solve my ‘problem’ for ages, even fitted Nitron’s, only to be told that it is perfectly normal. I notice mine when driving; the first ½ -3/4 of inch movement of the wheel from centre in either direction seems to have little affect on direction. After that it is quite sensitive when the suspension and rack are loaded a little more. It just feels vague about centre.
Does this sound familiar? If so, let me know what part of the country your in. I’d love to have a look at yours to see if mine is normal or not! Oooo er!
Cheers,
Rob
Stupid question but does the wheel feel relatively stiff to move but have no affect on the wheels or does the wheel move without any resistance when having no affect on the wheels?
The reason I ask is that I tried to solve my ‘problem’ for ages, even fitted Nitron’s, only to be told that it is perfectly normal. I notice mine when driving; the first ½ -3/4 of inch movement of the wheel from centre in either direction seems to have little affect on direction. After that it is quite sensitive when the suspension and rack are loaded a little more. It just feels vague about centre.
Does this sound familiar? If so, let me know what part of the country your in. I’d love to have a look at yours to see if mine is normal or not! Oooo er!
Cheers,
Rob
Mine is about the same 1/2 to 3/4 inch slack before anything seems to happen but only when the engine is off (I put it down to accumulated play in the uj and rack). Ive had other cars with knackered racks that feel the same all the time and they seemed to wander all over the road tramlining but the cerb is perfectly fine when you drive it. So it’s one of those things on my list of look at it if it gets worse.
What is getting worse is the rattle at the rear. Not the diff mounts and can’t find anything loose sounds like the boot lid is knocking but its not that. Any ideas. Exhaust is ok.
What is getting worse is the rattle at the rear. Not the diff mounts and can’t find anything loose sounds like the boot lid is knocking but its not that. Any ideas. Exhaust is ok.
jet fixer said:
Mine is about the same 1/2 to 3/4 inch slack before anything seems to happen but only when the engine is off (I put it down to accumulated play in the uj and rack). Ive had other cars with knackered racks that feel the same all the time and they seemed to wander all over the road tramlining but the cerb is perfectly fine when you drive it. So it’s one of those things on my list of look at it if it gets worse.
What is getting worse is the rattle at the rear. Not the diff mounts and can’t find anything loose sounds like the boot lid is knocking but its not that. Any ideas. Exhaust is ok.
Just replaced the anti roll bar drop links on mine, the rubber bushes had worn. Easy(ish) to do.
Thanks for the replies. more food for thought.
not sure how to answer the post about how much pressure there is in the free play bit. I assume thats an experience thing. I've already tried to bribe Jools into comming down to my part of the country to live and set up shop but I guess he'd miss his chip butties and mushy peas
Rjben and jet fixer. I live right next to brands hatch within a stone throw of the M25. You are always welcome to come and compare and see what your car looks like underneath, find rattles etc (two post lift overkill in my garage). Either that or I may have to go along to a local meet to compare.
not sure how to answer the post about how much pressure there is in the free play bit. I assume thats an experience thing. I've already tried to bribe Jools into comming down to my part of the country to live and set up shop but I guess he'd miss his chip butties and mushy peas
Rjben and jet fixer. I live right next to brands hatch within a stone throw of the M25. You are always welcome to come and compare and see what your car looks like underneath, find rattles etc (two post lift overkill in my garage
). Either that or I may have to go along to a local meet to compare.Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff