| Author | Message | ||
| Dr Tommy Cosgrove (Vwalfa4re)
Member Username: Vwalfa4re Post Number: 620 Registered: 5-2001 |
I really appreciate everyones help. I'll check things out and post what I find. | ||
| Philip Airey (Pma1010)
Junior Member Username: Pma1010 Post Number: 155 Registered: 7-2002 |
One more point. On wear, as others have indicated it is usually the passenger side bushing that goes first. If you wind the steering all the way to the right, move the boot along the inner tie rod and grab the end of the rack, you'll feel it move against the housing if there's play. If it moves, time to rebuild/replace. | ||
| Philip Airey (Pma1010)
Junior Member Username: Pma1010 Post Number: 154 Registered: 7-2002 |
I have just rebuilt my rack too with new bushes. it rod ends and I re-shimmed the pinion and the rack to get it tensioned "right". There is minimal slop at the wheel - I'd guess 3 to 5 mm at the outer edge. Tommy, pulling the rack and having it rebuilt (I sent mine to a machine shop that did the work for about $300) and then fitting new mounting rubbers, tie rod ends etc is not a difficult job, even for an amateur "mechanic" like me. If you do pull it, just take care to note where all the mounting hardware lines up. Working slowly it probably took me a couple of hours to pull it out. Greg ("JoeC" - for one) has done a write up of the procedure with some pics which is helpful Good luck | ||
| Bruno (Originalsinner)
Member Username: Originalsinner Post Number: 995 Registered: 5-2002 |
mine moves about 1/2" on a new /rebuilt rack and front end. | ||
| Greg Owens (Owens84qv)
Member Username: Owens84qv Post Number: 683 Registered: 10-2001 |
Greg, where did you get the bushings?...at the F dealer? This fall I'll be redoing all of the bushings in the a-arms and new shocks. I might as well redo the bushings in the steering rack. | ||
| Greg Rodgers (Joechristmas)
Member Username: Joechristmas Post Number: 685 Registered: 3-2001 |
Here is a pic of the red/orange bushings.  | ||
| Greg Rodgers (Joechristmas)
Member Username: Joechristmas Post Number: 684 Registered: 3-2001 |
Tommy, on my 78' 308 it had play sitting still. I could move the steering wheel from side to side in what I see as a generous amount. I then removed the rack, replaced the bushings, tie rod ends, and had the rack rebuilt. It still has some play when sitting still. On the road it isn't noticeable. Now on my QV sitting still it has play to some degree. I have never felt a 308 that didn't when sitting still. On the road it has virtually no play. How does your 308 feel on the road. There are 2 types of bushings that can cause trouble. The red/orange bushings that hold the rack to the chassis and the bushings that are in the rack itself. The red ones are around $1.50 ea. and you eight of them. I got an extra rack before when I still thought I had play. Turns out I don't need it. (the one pictured) Anyway, HTHS. | ||
| Greg Rodgers (Joechristmas)
Member Username: Joechristmas Post Number: 683 Registered: 3-2001 |
Here is a pic of a 308 steering rack with out the tie rod ends.  | ||
| matt (Matthewmag)
New member Username: Matthewmag Post Number: 13 Registered: 11-2002 |
Tommy, just measured my free-play, it's just over 4mm at the wheel rim and the rack's about 3000 miles old. Having said that, it was a bit less than that when new. Too much play could be a worn bushing, a worn rack, a worn pinion, play in a steering column u/j or the splined shaft, worn track-rod ends etc etc..... My old rack had a worn bushing, pinion and rack. Can't really say how much is too much but I can tell you that apart from losing a nice direct feel, high speed stability and crosswind stability really suffer. Get someone to rock the steering wheel while you feel the play at the end of the rack (particularly the passenger side where the bush is) and you'll soon see if there's play there. It's also useful to look how much the pinion shaft turns before moving the rack. Free movement here should be almost imperceptible to the eye if the rack / pinion are ok and correctly adjusted. I had a nightmare getting a decent new steering rack - if you are having the same problem, let me know. | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Advanced Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 2589 Registered: 8-2002 |
It's original with 52k on 205/70's not 52k on the tires but 52k original miles. | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Advanced Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 2588 Registered: 8-2002 |
I have very little play. About 1/4 to 1/2 inch if that much | ||
| Dr Tommy Cosgrove (Vwalfa4re)
Member Username: Vwalfa4re Post Number: 616 Registered: 5-2001 |
When the car is sitting still, how much "slop" is normal for the steering wheel? Is too much a sign of worn bushings in the rack? |