Steering Rack Troubleshooting
12-31-2002, 09:35 PM
#1
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Steering Rack Troubleshooting
While performing a pre-tech inspection for an upcoming DE, I found the rubber bellows cracked on both sides of the rack and pinion steering assembly. Replacing the boots is no problem but I was concerned about whether or not the internal tie rod ball joint was contaminated and possibly damaged. Although the ball joint assembly cleaned up fine and has no apparent movement, I did notice I could move the rack up and down slightly in its bore, moreso on the driver side than the passenger side.
There is no steering fluid leakage from the rack seals at all. Short of this slight amount of movement, everything seems tight.
I am curious if a small amount of movement is normal or am I looking at a rack replacement. The car has 42000 miles on it.
Thanks and Happy New Year to all!
Fred
<img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />
There is no steering fluid leakage from the rack seals at all. Short of this slight amount of movement, everything seems tight.
I am curious if a small amount of movement is normal or am I looking at a rack replacement. The car has 42000 miles on it.
Thanks and Happy New Year to all!
Fred
<img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />
01-01-2003, 05:32 AM
#2
RL Technical Advisor
Hi Fred:
Sorry to hear of your steering rack troubles.
In reality, its difficult to know how long the car was driven (and where) with torn boots and you really don't know how much dirt was ingested into there.
There should be little or no radial slop in the actual rack mechanism and if you feel an uneven amount; side-to-side, then I would be concerned about that.
IMHO, its a gamble to simply install new rack boots and hope for the best, given the mileage on your car.
At this point, all you risk is the labor and a few parts, but I would not be surprised if it leaks soon.
I always replace the tie-rods whenever the rack is changed as long as I'm there. You must re-align the front end anyway and I hate doing something twice.
Sorry to hear of your steering rack troubles.
In reality, its difficult to know how long the car was driven (and where) with torn boots and you really don't know how much dirt was ingested into there.
There should be little or no radial slop in the actual rack mechanism and if you feel an uneven amount; side-to-side, then I would be concerned about that.
IMHO, its a gamble to simply install new rack boots and hope for the best, given the mileage on your car.
At this point, all you risk is the labor and a few parts, but I would not be surprised if it leaks soon.
I always replace the tie-rods whenever the rack is changed as long as I'm there. You must re-align the front end anyway and I hate doing something twice.
01-01-2003, 08:47 PM
#3
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Thanks Steve,
As always, you provide excellent advice. The downside is I'll be spending a little more money than I had hoped. The upside is that this may explain the slight "wiggling" effect I was experiencing under hard cornering at the track. Up until now, I had been attributing this to increased application of power to the front wheels (my car is a TT).
Hope you and yours have a happy and prosperous new year!
Fred <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />
As always, you provide excellent advice. The downside is I'll be spending a little more money than I had hoped. The upside is that this may explain the slight "wiggling" effect I was experiencing under hard cornering at the track. Up until now, I had been attributing this to increased application of power to the front wheels (my car is a TT).
Hope you and yours have a happy and prosperous new year!
Fred <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />
