Re: play in rack (82 Cpe)

[Aleksander Mierzwa <alex@matrix.pl>]

At 13:28 21.08.98 -0400, Huw Powell wrote:

>In trying to narrow down some illegal motion in my front end I have
>discovered that there is someplay in the steering rack.  The rack shaft
>itself is able to rotate about its axis a few degrees, allowing the
>inner ends of the ties rods to move up and down about 3/16-1/4" or so. 
>My parts car's rack, however, exhibits the same range of motion.  Maybe
>it is bad too.  Anyone btdt, is the there any way to fix it, or do my
>real problems lie elsewhere...?

Interesting, I was just going to ask the same question! I've first noticed
it while replacing the LH tie-rod end: with the tie-rod end removed, I
could move the rack shaft up and down about 1/2"" by wiggling the tie-rod.
With both tie-rod ends connected to the struts, it's difficult to recreate
the behaviour, though. Out of the curiosity, I've checked this on our other
car (Renault) and it can be moved in the same manner. Does it mean that Huw
and I both have a total of four cars with broken racks ;-) or is it normal?
BTW, the rack on my 5KT was rebuild last year.

Aleksander Mierzwa
Warsaw, Poland
mailto:alex@matrix.com.pl
87 Audi 5000CS turbo (mine)
88 Renault Medallion wagon (mom's)
91 mountain bike (just in case both cars broke at the same time :-)