Steering Rack usually can be overhauled at home, unless something is really knackered out and needs machining, it's usually only a case of stripping, cleaning and replacing a few parts, re-assembling and some shim adjustments, however what I would suggest, is getting a hold of another second hand rack (or two if cheap enough) and overhauling that, then swapping over.
IMO, if when stripped, it's found something does need machining, even though i can do that too in house, I've never bothered, I just move on to another rack (and use what I can out of the first as 'pooled' spares).
I know we can get all normal replacement parts for our Racks OK, but I'm not sure with the UK racks. One stock item I would not bother with is some of the racks used a felt bush to support the inner rack on the passenger's side. They really are a cheap and nasty solution to make up for production tolerances. I would suggest having a bush machined up in something like Acetal (I actually use Bronze) and fit that.
When overhauling them, the first item to set up is the shimming of the pinion gear and it's bearings, that is then removed and the rest of the rack assembled, the pinion re-fitted and then the Yoke can be shimmed up.
Overhauling the rack usually only takes a few hours, usually less than it takes to swap them over!
In regards to the up-rated rubber bushes, apart from them coming from that particular supplier, I would express caution at fitting them, there's a bit of a write up on the Mini Spare's website about using hard rubber here. Keep in mind that making one part stiffer only transfers the load / shock to another part. Personally, I fit stock rubbers, which are quite adequate, and replace them about ever year or two, they are cheap enough and very easy to replace.
Edited by Moke Spider, 09 September 2015 - 07:34 PM.
