[V8] Steering Damper replacement

[Dave Saad]

I was taking my rack out anyway (for the boot replacement) - but I  
remember that the rack end of the damper has a long bolt that I could  
not get out without dropping and turning the rack a little. You can  
not "drop the rack a little" without taking off a lot of stuff.
I learned that hard way after the rack was re-installed and it was  
time to put the new damper on. I guess you could say I have done this  
job twice!

Do keep in mind that I remove things that are in my way rather than  
fight over it. I find that less stuff gets broken and things are  
generally easier that way. I am sure everyone will tell you it is  
totally unnecessary to remove the fuel lines for example, but it  
gives a lot of extra work room, is easy to do, and removes the  
possibility of damage to an expensive hose.

YMMV

Dave



On Sep 18, 2007, at 9:51 AM, Ed Kellock wrote:

> ?!!
>
> I replaced my steering damper quite a while ago so I don't remember
> the process very well, but I know I didn't have to do anything with
> the rack or steering column.
>
> Yikes.
>
> Ed
>
> On 9/18/07, Dave Saad <dsaad at icehouse.net> wrote:
>> It's a pretty big job. You have to go through most of the motions of
>> removing the rack in order to get the damper bolt off. I don't think
>> you have to remove the hydraulic lines, but you do have to unmount
>> the rack and the steering column.
>> I removed both distributors and coils, fuel lines, airbox, spark plug
>> wire tray, and anything else that got in my way when I did my rack
>> boot a while back.
>> Seems like you have to remove a transmission bolt too if you have an
>> automatic.
>>
>> May be a good time to have a look at your rack boot if you are in
>> that far...
>>
>>
>> Dave
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sep 17, 2007, at 10:41 PM, urq wrote:
>>
>>> ... no direct BTDT on the V8, but I've had them fail on both my
>>> Audi Fox and
>>> my BMW k1 ... in both instances the failure was obvious as it  
>>> created
>>> dangerous steering oscillation in hard acceleration situations.
>>> The parts
>>> appear to fail by a gas bubble building up near the piston, which
>>> eliminates
>>> any damping in a small range of steering travel.  The Fox was
>>> pretty violent
>>> on hard acceleration, but it went away when the throttle was lifted.
>>>
>>> I suspect the effect will be much less obvious on the V8 ... it  
>>> has a
>>> similar steering setup to the T44s, which do not have the damper.
>>> I suppose
>>> you could do the same test ... punch it in a safe area while going
>>> straight
>>> ... only hold the steering wheel lightly and feel if the car is
>>> trying to
>>> steer back and forth on its own.
>>>
>>> I suspect replacement of the damper might be a bit of a PITA, but
>>> it might
>>> just take removal of the passenger side dizzy to change that ... I
>>> do know
>>> it was a piece of cake on the '78 Fox ... :-)  The motorcycle was
>>> quite a
>>> PITA though ...
>>>
>>> Steve B
>>> San José, CA (USA)
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> I have a suspicion that my steering damper is bad.
>>> Anyone have some "Been There Done That" advice on
>>> a) how it feels and symptoms when it's bad and
>>> b) The steps  to replace it?
>>>
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>>
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>>
>>