SC Steering Rack DIY Bearing Replace

[Flieger]

Thanks!

[Nickshu]

So cool...more pics of your restoration anywhere on the board?

[KTL]

Does the needle bearing truly need replacement? My experience has been these can easily be disassembled and cleaned. I recently disassembled a rack and the Torrington bearing was easy to "rebuild" by picking out the needles, clean them off, smear the cage with grease and stack the needles back in there.

Thanks to Nick for the link to MSC. Type in "1712 bearing" and the IKO bearing for $8.54 comes up!

[RWebb]

why haven't any of you guys figured out how to hot rod the steering rack yet?

[DaddyGlenn]

Originally Posted by RWebb

why haven't any of you guys figured out how to hot rod the steering rack yet?

I painted flames on mine.





Not really

[KTL]

Originally Posted by RWebb

why haven't any of you guys figured out how to hot rod the steering rack yet?

Because its real low on ROI

Quick Ratio Steering Porsche Part Distributed By Patrick Motorsports

[RWebb]

low ROI has not stopped many Porsche owners


BTW - who is going to weigh their rack & etc. -- just to let the Borg add to the database

[Reiver]

very nice...looks like someone has been to the powdercoater of late.

[patkeefe]

I have to change my boots and tie rod ends. As the car is engineless, up in the air, I may as well look the rack over and see how it held up. I do think I'll change the grease and bearings and inspect the puck.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by KTL

Does the needle bearing truly need replacement?

It costs less than $9. Enough said. Personally I don't want to do this project again for another 30 years so I would recommend just replacing it.

[javadog]

Anybody ever try ordering any of the repair parts from Porsche? They seem to still offer some of the seals, o-rings and other wear parts for the 914-4 steering racks and I'd bet many of the parts are the same.

JR

[KTL]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

It costs less than $9. Enough said. Personally I don't want to do this project again for another 30 years so I would recommend just replacing it.

Why spend $9 plus shipping when you don't have to? My point is that "rebuilding" this needle bearing doesn't get any easier. You hose out the grease with brake cleaner and the needles literally fall out of the bearing cage. Hose out the grease in the cage, wipe everything clean with a paper towel and reassemble with a high quality grease. It takes about 5 minutes of your time.

Plus the bearing that's original to the rack is most likely of better quality.

Just my opinion................

[Jaybird12]

Originally Posted by KTL

Why spend $9 plus shipping when you don't have to? My point is that "rebuilding" this needle bearing doesn't get any easier. You hose out the grease with brake cleaner and the needles literally fall out of the bearing cage. Hose out the grease in the cage, wipe everything clean with a paper towel and reassemble with a high quality grease. It takes about 5 minutes of your time.

Plus the bearing that's original to the rack is most likely of better quality.

Just my opinion................

But its been running dry for ,,,,,,10-15 years minimum. It doesn't matter how high quality it is there's bound to be wear on the bearing. Even a quality bearing is a small expense for one less weak link in the proverbial chain. My opinion.

[Luc Bernier]

have the same problem on my 78 SC.
that's my project for this spring, since the car is stored away for the winter. Since I will have someone check out my play in the steering wheel, how much work do you figure it will be ? hours ? parts ?

I want a steering wheel feeling that will make me enjoy the car at highway speed as well as on country roads, wich is not the case right now.

thanks for advices
Luc

[KTL]

If the bearing was truly running dry it would seize up or really increase the steering effort . All i'm saying is that the bearing is a VERY simple piece to take apart and look at. Needle bearings are very good at telling you when they're bad. They leave their mark on the shaft in the pattern of the needles.

BTW the lower bearing is indeed pressed onto the pinion. You remove the circlip and shims and then have to pull it off with a tiny puller arrangement. To reinstall, a socket of suitable size in your workbench vise works great.

Luc,

The steering rack rebuild process is not hard. If the tie rods are already being replaced, then the work to get the rack out is even easier. After the tie rods, the rack mount bolts and the upper shaft u-joint connection are the remaining spots to disconnect the rack from the car. After that, it's just a matter of taking apart the rack which is quite simple.

[Jaybird12]

Originally Posted by mikeatfhc

I can finally ad something to the knowledge base of this board...

I just tore into my front suspension this last weekend. Since I was in there itis struck me so I thought I'd pull the rack and check it out. It's a pretty simple device so not much to say *but* that be careful when you pull everything apart - the pinion bearings up in the top of the rack (not behind the access covers) are loose needle bearings.

They stayed in the race just fine until I took everything apart and started spraying degreaser into the housing to clean it up... the degreaser melted the grease and all of the little needle bearings came out and (luckily) fell into my parts tray and not on the floor and under the garage door. Be forewarned...

I consulted with a machine shop friend who assured me they are fine for reuse... just dap grease on your finger and set them back in one by one. I finalized the procedure by 'packing' grease in there and rotating them with my pinky finger.

The rest of this is a pretty easy process - very glad I did it.






(My bearings were fine so I did not replace them.)

Here's a photo after cleanup - the needle bearings exist in the center top shaft staring at you in the face right now...


Sorry - I forgot to count the little buggers for posterity.

I had 26 in mine.

[Craig_D]

Originally Posted by Jaybird12

I had 26 in mine.

That's interesting. On my '78 SC, I had 29 needle bearings.

[DaddyGlenn]

I just replaced the bearings when I did mine. Very cheap insurance.

[frankc]

I just disassembled mine today. Interestingly, the needle bearing from my '77 had 26 rollers in it just like Jaybird12.

And amazingly, the 35 year old grease appeared to be in pretty good shape, as were the bearings and puck. But as folks here have said, as long as I've got it to this point I might as well replace the bearings and be done with it for another 35 years.

Question - is a "caged" needle bearing suitable for this application? This is the only 1712 bearing listed at MSC. I guess this avoids accidentally losing the rollers.

Shell Needle Roller Bearings - Radial Ball Bearings | MSCDirect.com

Also, does anyone know where to order the O-Ring used at the top of the pinion?

Thanks

[Jaybird12]

Originally Posted by frankc

I just disassembled mine today. Interestingly, the needle bearing from my '77 had 26 rollers in it just like Jaybird12.

And amazingly, the 35 year old grease appeared to be in pretty good shape, as were the bearings and puck. But as folks here have said, as long as I've got it to this point I might as well replace the bearings and be done with it for another 35 years.

Question - is a "caged" needle bearing suitable for this application? This is the only 1712 bearing listed at MSC. I guess this avoids accidentally losing the rollers.

Shell Needle Roller Bearings - Radial Ball Bearings | MSCDirect.com

Also, does anyone know where to order the O-Ring used at the top of the pinion?

Thanks

I just used a generic o-ring from an o-ring kit I have. Can't see it being a problem as long as its matched in size and diameter.