Anyone have a steering rack lying around that can check something for me?

[Techno Duck]

To anyone that might have a spare steering rack laying around.. can you check something for me on it? When the rack is perfectly centered (determined via dimple in alignment hole), does the splined shaft 'notch' for the steering shaft lock bolt end up on the same side of the banjo bolt fittings or does it end up facing towards the left front corner of the car (this is if you imagine the rack were mounted on the car). Im not sure if this is going to be the same for all power steering racks. If it is, it might shed some light on what exactly happened to the steering on my car.

Trying to determine if this is a feasible way to see if the rack / pinion slipped.

[moorepower]

I've got a rack out in the shed that I just pulled off my car. I have to work until midnight tonight, but if no one else chimes in before morning, I'll post some pics.

[Techno Duck]

I would greatly appreciate the help if you happen to get the chance.

Its very hard to tell from this picture, but i am thinking if the rack is centered, all steering racks should have the notched part on splined pinion shaft stop at the same spot. If you look at the picture carefully, you will see where the pinch bolt is..and should be able to get an idea as to what i mean by its orientation.

[zedsn]

Hi Jon, I have a spare manual rack and wanted to know if the dimple is visable and where is it located? if you can answer I may be able to dig up the rack tonight in my attic of my garage. You can email me at zedsn@hotmail,com and I can take a specific photo for you if you wish. Ed from Ohio.

[Techno Duck]

The dimple is visible on manual racks aswell, i actually have pictures of it on a manual rack that passed through my hands..



Its visible from the bottom side of the rack. There might be a plug or screw that you need to remove to see it.

BTW, a few people have offered to check for me when they get home later on. So dont go crazy digging one out! Its really not that important.

[zedsn]

Hi Jon, pulled out my manual rack and dug out some crap in the back where the detent would be. One question for you first though. What goes inside the detent ball inspection hole? I see threads in my rack but nothing covering the hole and to answer your question on the position of the bolt it would be at about 1 or 2 oclock looking from the front of it to the back so it looks different than your photo. If you want to email me I can email you a photo of my manual rack zedsn@hotmail.com

[Techno Duck]

Ed, there is a special bolt that threads into the hold that will hole the rack at center when doing a wheel alignment. You can make one by grinding down the tip of a bolt, or i have heard some people put a ball bearing into the hole, and a regular bolt threaded in to hold it in place.

The special bolt is only about $4... part # P-9116

[moorepower]

I'm not sure, but I think the position of the notch on the splined shaft coming from the rack is different from the manual to power rack. I just swapped my power rack for a manual one, and putting the steering shafts side by side I noticed the u-jointed ends of the two shafts are at a different angle.

By the way, Duck, that manual rack picture looks familiar. Is that the rack you sold to Borys? If so, that rack just found its way onto the front of my car.

[Techno Duck]

Haha yea, funny how things work out. I actually bought it from the flaky guy Nemesis. Had no problems with the transaction. Was considering putting it on my car to further lighten it. But after talking to a few people the weight saved from going to manual steering is minimal at best. The advantages of less weight to the extra effort spent cranking the wheel with sticky 225 width r-compounds on the front at auto-x was not worth it.

[moorepower]

I weighed all the manual parts and all the power parts on a shipping scale we have at work, and the difference was a whopping 14lbs. Kinda disappointing, I was hoping for at least a 20lb savings. But the feel is great, and the effort is not a problem with the little 'ol 205's on my 924S.

[moorepower]

I took this picture with the rack centered. The banjo bolts (what would be the rear of the rack, on the car) are at the top of the picture.

[Techno Duck]

Thanks for the picture. I am thinking this is a way to determine if the rack is centered..that is if the rack was never rebuilt. Hopefully i can get a few more people to confirm.