13 replies to this topic

[spiguy]

Hi all,

 

Just spent the day fitting a new minispares steering rack. I've just put the track rod ends on, and this is the first time I have moved the rack really. Straight away I was surprised to find that it is noisy, like the mesh of the rack and pinion is pretty tight. Is this normal - does it bed in?  I've never fitted a new rack  before, so wouldn't know from experience.

 

Thanks

[Spiffingly Good]

We fitted a new steering rack from minispares a few years ago and had the same problem, it didn't bed in or get any looser, i'd say take it back.   Bought another rack from minispares late last year and was much better, asked the guys about the other rack been tight and they said we should of brought it back.

[spiguy]

Feels OK through the steering, very slight sense of notchiness, but certainly not tight feeling. The noise is when you grab the road wheel and work the steering that way. I would be seriously pi55ed at having to repeat the job of replacing that again. I think it will work fine, just wondered if it is any way risky being like that?

[sonikk4]

Mmm safety critical springs to mind here. Contact simon@minispares on here or ring them. It should not be notchy or make any noises.

 

I certainly would not take the risk at all.

[spiguy]

After going lock to lock several times it has quietened right down. I'll keep an eye on it and if I'm uncomfortable with it I'll give Simon a shout.

[spiguy]

slight update on this and a question. Been driving the car for a few days now and all seems OK. The steering is still a little heavier than it was before, however everything is still tight and new - new track rod ends, and the inner track rod balljoints are still quite tight. It seems to be 'bedding in' though and with the wheels in the air I can rotate the steering with a finger, so I don't think the mesh itself is too tight.

 

There is a tiny sort of squeak, very slight, when you first start the steering moving. I have checked and there is no lateral or vertical play on the pinion,there is also no grinding or any other unhealthy noise and I believe that what is happening is that the plastic bushings are quite a tight fit against the rack part inside, and so the grease will have been scraped off leaving things a little 'dry'. I have read that in the past steering racks used oil lube, and wondered the following. Could I remove the plastic bung that covers the hole which you use to align the rack (accessed through the hole in the toeboard on the passenger side) and put a little gear oil in there? Would this do any harm? Seems to me this would be a good route to get oil in there, as with the plastic bung removed, you can see the rack sliding past. I would be interested to see if this has any effect, just don't want to do anything which would do harm.

Edited by carlukemini, 12 February 2015 - 11:34 PM.

[spiguy]

Sorry to bump this, but looking for feedback (see my last post before this shameless bump)

Edited by carlukemini, 13 February 2015 - 09:31 AM.

[Spider]

The 'Bung' in not a recommended oiling point, not because of any damage that may be caused to the rack, but becuase of where it is, it will take forever to get any oil in to the rack. Normally you'd fill the rack, if in situ, through the Gaiter little end with an Oil Can. 200 ml of 140 weight Oil.

 

HOWEVER, being a new rack and presumably under warranty, check with the supplier that this won't void the warranty.

 

I will finish off though by saying what the other guys have said, it does sound like there is an issue with that rack and at the least, it should be looked at for a second opinion. The rack can still have issues even if there's no play in the Pinion.

Edited by Moke Spider, 13 February 2015 - 10:08 AM.

[spiguy]

Thanks for the input Moke Spider. I appreciate your comments and will consider them. Agreed, it would probably void the warranty, I had considered that. I had read that if oiling racks you do it the way you describe (I think it was actually an old post of yours). I had thought that if I was going to add a little oil, that the bung hole would be good because it is close to the left side bush, which I suspect is where the little squeak is coming from. (it's not a great description, it's not even a squeak really, just like a little bit of stiction as the rack starts to move).

 

Thanks for the quick reply.

[cal844]

If i replace a rack i work it lock to lock a few times, quietens it right down

[spiguy]

Interesting. Thanks for the info. I guess that just distributes the grease around?

[Wise Old Elf]

Sounds like the grease has settled in one place whilst the rack is in storage causing the dry sound of teeth meshing. By working it back and forth a few times the teeth are re-coated.

[sonikk4]

Back to my first reply, have you contacted simon@minispares?? They supplied the rack and as such should be able to answer your question rather than trying to guess.

It's been five days since your original post, it's the first thing I would have done. At least then hearing from them would have put your mind at rest. Tampering with it in anyway will void the warranty especially if mentioned on it's been mentioned that's it's been done on a public forum.

[spiguy]

I've dropped Simon a PM with all the details. Not looking to annoy anyone.  I have just been asking a few questions of an information gathering nature and I am not trying to get anyone else to tell me what I should do, just getting information to help me decide.

 

Nor am I trying to hide anything - if I did indeed decide to add a bit of gear oil to it, or do anything else to it for that matter, then of course I understand that this could affect the warranty, and that would be my responsibility.