CRG

putting my 89 rack back together and the input shaft cap broke, must not have been flush when i started to bolt it down. the body is aluminum but the plate with the holes is cast..and brittle

does someone have an old rack laying around that you be wiling to part with the cap? the number on the cap is 7840 116

or, since the material looks like cast aluminum any tried & tested (proven) methods on how to repair cast aluminum? i don't want to try JB weld or another epoxy because if it doesn't work it won't come off that easy causing a problem for the next "possible" solution..know what i mean

thanks

Rocket Rob

Since it affects the safety of the car (ability to steer), I would agree. Don't take a short cut to fix it. I would try to find a replacement original. If someone on RL doesn't have one, I would try to the used parts suppliers like DC Auto. If all else fails, perhaps a local welder can TIG weld it for you.

cobalt

I did this to the first one I rebuilt. I was pissed at myself. Odds are if it broke it was because one of the seals kept the center core from sitting flush or you replaced the bearing in the wrong place keeping it from sitting flush. Make sure that you didn't damage one of the 4 white bands before you do anything. They can bind and keep it from sitting in the opening properly.

BTW I believe it is aluminum but not heat treated so it was not very strong to begin with. The grain structure does not look like it was heat treated and does not look like a 319 aluminum which is self aging.

You could probably use an aluminum epoxy http://bluemagicusa.com/index.php/bl...d_epoxy_putty/ This should keep it from seperating and since it broke as they all do the other two bolts should hold it in place with enough force it should not leak with the clean fit and the epoxy on the third. The one I broke is still holding up on my friend's car after years of service. I used a little epoxy and bolted it in place to let harden. Seemed just as strong as the original piece.

Jacke2c

https://www.aluminumrepair.com


Watch the video they have... looks as if yours would be a simple repair...

cobalt

Those are some pretty tall claims. How do you improve temper by using a torch? Ultimate tensile is achieved by processing under controlled conditions. A given period of time at an elevated temp just below the liquidus state followed by a very quick emersion or quench in water or oil and then aged. This part was never heat treated and is weak so it might work but on normal parts using a torch would kill the temper not improve it.

CRG

Quicksteel ordered..thanks Anthony

cool video but prob not right for this application..thanks anyways