steering rack

[porshe]

Can anyone tell me if there are any grease nipples in the steering rack mine steering seems stiff. Its a bit sticky when you first turn the wheel. Its an mid 80's model.

[euro911sc]

No nipples there. Could be the column bushing up at the steering wheel, the roller bearing in the smugglers box, or the rack. I would look at the other 2 before the rack. The smugglers box bearing usually gets corroded and dies in a brown burst of powdered rust. It is contained in a rubber casing. I made a nylon bushing from a washer I got at Lowes that fit in place of this bearing. Works like a champ!

The column bushing is a well know ans solved failure point. See the 911 tech forum.

A few people have gone into the rack and reported its a fairly simple device to re-work. There is a post that contains the generic bearing numbers that you need to order to replace the bearings in the rack itself.

enjoy!

michael

[Targa Me]

I've rebuilt my '84 steering rack...its easy.
The reason your steering feels a bit sticky is because the piece that puts pressure on the steering rack is wearing. I'll call it the plundger. it's made of aluminum and the rack is steel.
Remove the entire steering rack from the car, remove the 2 covers in the middle of the rack and there you will find the plundger. Remove it and file it down so that it's smooth, grease it up and reassembly.