Rack and Pinion Steering Assembly - Rebuild

Whats wrong with yours? I have two, one reading 53K miles, the other 45K, both racks had shot outer right side bushings and failed boots. Everything else inside was fine. One new bushing and some boots and run her some more. You cant actually buy a bushing that I'm aware of, but a bit of time on a lathe and you can certainly make one. I made the first one out of Delrin and it showed wear right away. Im going to try making a longer one out of bronze. Before I would spend almost $500 for a rebuild, you might consider a new one, I think they are like $600? Dont quote me.

And while your at it, you may want to consider the close ratio kit from superformance to make it 2.5 turns lock to lock.

 

Hello Chuck,

I have a friend with a 308 GTB, who did exactly the same job this year on his steering assembly. The bushing is easily removable by removing that one securing screw.
The rubber boots are also available and not expensive. I bought a pair some years ago from Superformance in the UK.
When I did my own steering rack two years ago I left the bushings alone since there was no play, but it leaked.
So I just renewed the rubber boots and the small seal for the pinion.
I'm not sure any more, whether there are any thread holes which go completely through the housing. If so, its highly recommended to use some thread sealer ( Loctite or similar ) on the corresponding bolts.

Best Regards from Germany

Martin

 

my steering rack in the 308 seems to have a lot of slop when the steering wheel is straight up, but when the steering wheel is turned all the way to one side, there is much less slop. could this be the worm gear in the rack??? if so, can shims take care of this?
tie rod ends, steering rack bushings, ball joints and control arm bushings were all inspected and they seem to be solid. it looks like there is a small ammount of give in the rack bushings but not much.

 

http://montehospital.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11&products_id=246

The above Lancia Montecarlo bushing looks (I say "looks") exactly like the one in the Mondial QV. May be worth a dimensional check?

 

Chuck- Here are the two shops that seem to have the best reputation on this site, with many happy customers. Perhaps the pros here can sugest others. The NC shop seems to have slightly higher ratings, or maybe they have a lower price.

Taz
Terry Phillips

Atlantic Enterprises
9326 Highway 90
Longs, NC 29568
1-800-654-7565


Advantage West,
68805 Perez Road, # F44
Cathedral City, CA 92234-7227
760 202 9990

 

Taz, the post from Chuck is over 3 years old and his last posting on FChat was also more than two years ago.
I regret it, because we 'chatted' a lot Off-FChat, but he seems to be no longer in the 'F-business'.
Chuck; if you read this and I'm wrong, please give a 'sign of life'.

Best Regards from Germany

Martin

 

Martin- Unfortunately, I do that all the time. Always gives Brian a laugh. Hopefully, someone else can use the information.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Contact "JH355" on this forum...he can help with rebuilding these racks and has all the parts, and technical knowledge.

 

i sent a pm to JH355 a while back, i have not heard from him..

anyone got a phone number for him?

 

Yes, that LOOKS like the bushing used for the TRW steering racks (Cam Gears is completely different. See below).

I replaced the rack bushing and made my own on my Taig bench-top lathe, using nylon MDS66 material.
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Peter, maybe you should make a batch for the rest of us now that your car is back on the road!!! Id probably pay 50$ for one!!!

 

P.I. Motorsports makes a bronze bushing for the Pantera rack, which I believe is the same as the Ferrari. They sell it for $50. -Steve http://www.pim.net/spage.html

 

i spoke with JH355, great guy, very knowledgeable. he has rebuilt many a rack.
i will have him rebuild mine or buy one of his already rebuilt racks...
thanks folks

 

He's done several racks for me...including a custom rack for my bb.
In my opinion, simply the best there is!!

David

 

Over the past holidays John Haller (JH355) rebuilt the Cam Gears rack for my '85 308 with Superformance internals, new inner tie rods, new boots, seals, o-rings, grease etc.

Mine was quite an ordeal - about a year ago I ordered a complete rack from Superformance, but there was binding internally plus it isn't at all clear on their website that only the internal rack 'kit' is a quicker ratio than stock.
To SF's credit they agreed to take back the complete rack and sent out the QR internals, which John discovered to be about an inch too long (probably for a Mondial or TR). Anyway John machined off a bit on either end to allow the outer rod ends enough thread for alignment, and he also ground a couple thou off the SF pinion shaft so it would fit into the OEM bearing.

This is not a job for the average DIYer. Ferrari used something like 12 different steering racks for 308s, and these days finding all the little bits and bobs to do a proper rebuild is damn near impossible.

John's work is absolutely top-notch; he quoted a price before I sent the rack, communicated everything promptly along the way (his first step is CMMing all parts to check if anything is not straight), and always asked first before doing anything that was outside of the original scope (which there very well could be, as you don't know the condition of everything until it's apart).
After driving the car for the first time with the new rack last week, I can say without hesitation that it was worth every penny. Absolutely zero slop, quick, smooth transitions left/right, fantastic feel, etcetc.
Not cheap, but sloppy unpredictable steering on a Ferrari is just plain unnaceptable.

If I had to do it again, the only thing I may do differently is keeping the OEM rack/pinion instead of going QR. But since I've only driven about 20 miles so far I'll reserve judgement on that.

 

If someone will PM me John Haller's details, I will add him to my list. Does he do later racks as well?

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

JH355 here on FChat.

 

Have you seen this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMMju5OSn7s

 

By the way, I replaced mine last spring with a rebuilt unit from Rutland's. The difference is amazing. It wanted to wander a little on the highway which was really frustrating. Not a lot but just enough to spoil a nice drive to and from Atlanta. No more. Tracks dead stright again.

It had 104,000 miles on it. The right side was shot

 

http://www.westarmed.com/Contact%20us.htm

 

The difference is John will not send anything back that isn't something he would use himself. He sets the standard we should all expect from our vendors and service depts. "commercially acceptable" is a standard that does not exist in his book. It is either right or not right.

 

I agree with this 100%. He rebuilt the rack on my 328 last summer and was great to work with. John is a true craftsman and an all around nice guy.