Steering rack ?

[Jonnie B]

Ive just develeped about a 1/4 inch freeplay at the steering weel and can feel some strange clonks when turning slowly.(through the steering weel).

Im guesing that the steering rack is worn ?. As they is no play in the UJ joint and it seems that the play is within the rack.

Could anyone confirm that the above sounds right.
If a new one is needed,Is it a stright forward job to replace it ?. ( I beleave you have to drain the coolent down ).
Is it possible to have it reconditioned or is it better to fit a new one and does anyone now whot the likly cost's would be.

Thanks for any advice and input.
John B.

[ridds]

Greenwich Power Steering services can turn then around in approx 5 days and should cost no more than £150 all in.

Very good service from them, they dropped my rack back to me at work.

Getting the rack out is a pig. Right fiddly, you'll need to drain the coolant to remove the coolant pipes to allow you space to get the rack out.

You'll also need someone to hold the 4 bolts that hold the rack in as they are not captive and prove tricky to reach around the front of the car. Also removing the bonnet will make it a lot easier.

[Jonnie B]

ridds said:

Greenwich Power Steering services can turn then around in approx 5 days and should cost no more than £150 all in.

Very good service from them, they dropped my rack back to me at work.

Getting the rack out is a pig. Right fiddly, you'll need to drain the coolant to remove the coolant pipes to allow you space to get the rack out.

You'll also need someone to hold the 4 bolts that hold the rack in as they are not captive and prove tricky to reach around the front of the car. Also removing the bonnet will make it a lot easier.

Cheers thanks for the advice.

[TooTall Paul]

I've just changed the uj's on mine, although there didn't seam to be any play in the ujs, once changed they was a very noticeable difference in the steering. TVR power were the cheapest for the UJ's too

[ridds]

Rough price for them Paul?

[that daddy]

i cant see a rack and pinion steering gear causing that type of play at the steering wheel end,i would check the universal couplings on the steering shaft properly first,much more likely.

[ridds]

The joints between the rack itself and the track control rods have a habit of wearing on Cerbs.

[Jonnie B]

Hi all.
I had the UJ joint replaced about a year ago so i dont think that is the problem.Spoke to TVR car parts and a recon from them is about £250.00 to £300.00, a new one from TVR if available about £800.00.
They seem to think it sounds like the crown weel or somthing like that can't quit remember.

John B

[that daddy]

cant see it being the rack and pinion mechanism,unless the rack is shite qulity,if its track rod arms(not ends)as in the previous post,see if there available, failing that just get your unit rebuilt.

[ridds]

What a wonderful insight.

Lots of comments on it not being the rack yet if you were able to search the forums just have a look how many people have had their racks re-con'd.

£150 if you want to get your hands dirty £250-£300 for your dealer to do it if you don't want the hassle. tbh I'd trust GPS more as they have done a lot of Cerb racks now, know what all the bits are and have a very quick turnaround.

Also, get your self some new track rod ends when you refit it and make sure you get the rack and steering wheel central when re-fitting.

[that daddy]

then if its the rack & pinion gear that wears the unit must be shite quality as i said earlier i know of no widely used steering racks that are prone to this,its normally the parts listed in my previous post,i mean the cars not exactly heavy is it,i was just just trying to give the guy something to go on,but for those prices might as well change the whole thing,seem like good prices.

[ridds]

Depends what you difine as good quality.

The rack internals, I beleive, to be from approx 92-93 vintage Ford. Quiet possibly something like an Escort or maybe something slightly larger like a Sierra. Due to the nature of the vehicle (sports coupe with low lock to lock) then yes the loads transmitted through the rack will be quite high. The vehicle may not be that heavy but it is stil 1200kg odd. Also combine that with large cross section tyres and you have the beginnings of some very high loads within the rack.

The parts themselves may well have been designed well for their original intent, however changing them to this application with very little real world durability testing would have been the downfall I suspect.

So no, in my eyes not a quality issue at all but more of an underengineering problem.

[that daddy]

Ridds sounds about right to me,just a standard TVR kind of fault then,he,he.

[Jonnie B]

Thanks to both your commments and insight - Ridds & That Daddy.
But i tend to agree with Ridds (Matt) that they is a lot of wieght and pressure when turning slowly espeacialy when parking.In the garage its very nearly inpossible to turn the steering weel with the car turned of.

I think i'l take your advice and contact GPS, in the near future.

Thanks again all.

John B.