Steering Rack

[patkeefe]

How does one lube the steering rack? I have it all loose as I'm doing the bump steer and turbo tie rod ends at this moment.

Bentley says simply "Remove steering rack from car". HA!

Pat

[einreb]

From the KTL archives...

Steering Rack "Rebuild" Procedure

I did this about a month ago... not abad job. There are a few changes depending on the year of the car, but its pretty obvious once you start taking it apart.

[patkeefe]

Thanks!
I think it's the aftermarket A/C thats killing me.
Pat

[Matt_C]

I did it recently and followed the instructions in this thread:

Steering Rack Regrease

[patkeefe]

Thanks guys!
My biggest problem is getting the %^%^%$&% rack out. Where is the point of separation from the rack to the shaft? Is it at the u-joint, or somewhere else in between the u-joint and the rack proper? I suspect the refrigerant lines are compounding the removal.
Pat

[einreb]

disconnect at the u-joint going to the steering wheel. the access is via the front bonnet in the smugglers box. loosen the lower bolt ... its a splined connection. i used a little screw driver pressure to make sure it was free and then slid off the u-joint.

[patkeefe]

Well, Dean Wormer:
U-joint is disconnected. Bootie is off. Two brake lines are disconnected. Refrigerant line is out of the way. Soon as that brake fliud stops leaking out, I'm going to stick my head back under there. I think I'm close
Senator Blutarski

[einreb]

Uh... just to be sure... did you remove the steering rack shaft support right below the u-joint? That needs to be taken apart to free the rack.

Did you disconnect the brake lines for a particular reason?

[patkeefe]

Bernie:
Yeah, I took out the support with the rubber biscuit...it's the clamp with the two Allen head cap screws.
I did just now get the rack out. The two brake lines seemd to be in the way...unindicted co-conspirators along with the refrigerant line. I didn't want to squash the brake lines and have to fabricate new lines if I could help it. I've got way too much "while you're in there..." stuff going on as it is.

Thanks for your help! It is greatly appreciated.
Pat

It's nice to have the wireless laptop in the garage. How did we survive without the WWW?

[einreb]

[patkeefe]

Now that's the rack is out, I have noticed that the inner tie rod end on the driver's side is bent at about a 20 degree angle. Maye that's why there are rub marks on the inner fender well.

Another case of why we do "while you're in there".
Pat

[patkeefe]

Now that I examine this further, it looks like it was made this way

[patkeefe]

Duh
I must have been sleeping that day in geometry class...