Calling Julian64 re. steering rack seals

[edhorne]

Julian64

I read your post on the steering rack.

I have been under my car investigating here and there and to replace the front anti-roll bar bushes. Having taken the sump guard off there is a very small leak from the steering rack and unless the casting has cracked it is leaking from the input shaft.

I was hoping that I could change the seal with the rack in situ.

What is the best way to do it?

Should I loosen the rack on its mountings? Is it just a case of removing the UJs and then the valve block?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Hopefully I can sort this out while I am waiting to fix the clutch slave cylinder!

Cheers

Ed

[julian64]

errumm, I'm obviously getting old but for the life of me I can't remember whether that seal pulls off the shaft after you take the UJ off or not. I think that was well over a year ago.

As far as I remember the whole section comes out of the top of the rack with the rack still in situ.

I should have my old photos of the job. I'll try and dig them out to see.

[edhorne]

Thanks very much.

Photos would be very useful.

Ed

[julian64]

Hmm can't find the photos. As far as I remember you can leave the rack in situ. You then remove the two UJ's on the steering column and remove the centre section of the steering shaft.

Then down at the rack you have two or three allen head bolts to remove. Once removed you remove the tensioner nut from the top of the rack itself (The one that pushes the steering shaft to engage with the horizontal rack).

The input shaft now pulls out of the top of the steering rack and the seal is then readily accessable for changing.

[edhorne]

Thanks for that Julian64.

I will get on it at the weekend.

Cheers

Ed

[jmabw]

My steering rack is is leaking badly out of the OS gaitor, how did you get on with this job, are the parts available, is it worth doing in situ or is it best to remove and get a specialist overhaul?

Anyone got any photos?

J.