308 Steering Rack Rebuild

Hi all -

For a very (very) long time, my steering wheel has been exhibiting an interesting phenomenon: after a nice bit on the road, the wheel begins to exhibit sticktion, and makes slight wheel corrections feel notchy. Once it starts, it doesn't cease until the next day's run. When driving slow (say, parking), you can hear the wheel groaning as you turn it - almost like rubber against rubber. You can feel it in your hands - and the sound is not from the front of the car, it's somewhere in the steering column itself.

The rack has only about 7K miles on it, and the rest of the front suspension and tires less than 5K. Alignment is good. I've replaced the small bushing at the firewall a couple of years ago (thanks for that tip, Martin), but the issue was not resolved.

I've noted on this image that there are 2 bearings in the column (parts #12).
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With a small mirror, I can see the slightest bit of grease on the ring nut next to 12-Lower; unsure if it's coming from the bearing. I'm pulling the wheel and collar off later this week, and will (hopefully) be taking a look at 12-Upper. Unless something is physically rubbing wrong inside the column, I'm going to suspect the bearings themselves.

Not sure how it's it's going to be to replace those bearings if needed, though I do have a press and a lot of tools. New bearings are about $20, so I'd prefer doing a refurb instead of buying a $1200 used column. I plan to get it on the bench, by removing the assembly at Nut 24 (the spline).

Any advice before I move forward on disassembly?

 

You will need to disconnect the electrics, I would then loosen nut 24 and then take out the 2 retaining bolts items 34, drop the whole column and pull out, the whole thing should slide off the spline item 3. I would be very surprised if it was upper column more likely something wrong with UJ item 6 or the spherical bearing item 30. (personally I would take the steering wheel off and horn push as it just makes things more awkward).

 

Day 2:

Due to waiting for a tool to arrive, decided to take one last look at everything before I start pulling it all apart. Have discovered that although the noise seems to be coming from the collar area, it's actually traveling up the column. Loosened the plate (part 31) to make sure it wasn't the ball pivot. Loosened the collar (nut 24) completely. No change in noise. Pulled the spare well out, grabbed my stethoscope and the GF wiggled the steering wheel.

Sound is most pronounced right about the gear area of the steering rack itself. Removed the preload plate/spring, noise still present. So it seems there may be an interior rack issue... something in there is rubbing in ways it shouldn't, once heated up.

 

My guess would be the outer rack bush has started to disintegrate

 

Saturday Update:

Jacked the car up this morning, had the rack out within about an hour or so. Some pics:

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Those shims you see are not OEM, of course. A previous mechanic had done a speed rack shaft conversion. He left off 2 of the shims (which of course, I don't have now), installed 2 of them that he didn't drop on the floor - one in each bracket. This resulted in the rack being shimmed wrong, and crooked in the car when reinstalled. I corrected this as best I could with a lot of measuring and cutting custom shims a couple of years ago, when I was first attacking an issue of the car refusing to keep straight on the highway.

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Pic of the driver's (left) side shaft. I'm not familiar with what type of blue grease this is... have no idea if it's appropriate grease, or completely wrong for the type of use. Doesn't look like the black thick stuff I see other people using when they rebuild racks.

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Passenger side of the rack. Fun observation - neither of the end caps were restaked after previous tech did the conversion. So it's becoming an experience of "do you feel lucky?" if I disassemble the whole thing.

I'm debating buying a pin wrench, adjustable spanner, and a rebuild kit (with parts that may or may not be correct, that would be my luck).... or just purchase another damned rack.

 

Grease is mobile xhp 220 or 460... Very good grease for high pressure, temp etc. Appropriate use here.

https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/for-businesses/industrial/lubricants/product-series/mobilgrease-xhp-220-series

 

Thanks for that confirm.

The roller bearing is packed with grey stuff (moly?) In any case, I'll stick to using a single grease.

 

I like the xhp blue stuff. Doesn't break down over time and sticks!

 

This is what I’ve used when I had mine rebuilt, works great.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/255353508444?hash=item3b7441525c:g:AGcAAOSw8yJgPAwS&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAABEN4RwCnjvfCAvK8xA%2BfqG0kAAcN9ARZpdOydRpmkBnofAKdtHn3kbaqp6UnWOuXejF6wINMFU2hcbE7oB4qAhiauwkKnGEus8%2FvuhbHZl3qs13LsRBnvT8O%2BkkjL5fyj9KY1aA3Jj2QF2BLA3YBIAsLjYy8udvZ9aKPNjqnZPejrn87%2F%2FkTeeoGwFFEU174aolgqMUlAjQsp9lEx1FSlVFnmOi%2FOicAmKhjrDVdSu7fc6QzlaobW0hR%2BZ5ZH8P6krioLmFkivTGJGSCvdbssetp8qBNfprl5bExNZ5sR8%2BnW96JpP4TyeP6L9r27d4ss5A%2FOBwq80mHcUPd9sGES%2FD9aoXakKd9UFEEY8IVcsiCR%7Ctkp%3ABFBMvunszrNg

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Mine has been exhibiting the same behavior (1981 308 GTSi, sometimes sticks when turning). There’s a lot of up/down movement in the right side of the rack. Oddly enough, when I pulled the boot back, a lot of oil or fluid came out. Are these racks easily rebuildable, or does it just make sense to replace the entire assembly? Why would it be filled with oil rather than grease?

 

According to post #1, point #2 in this detailed steering rack thread, they're supposed to be filled with 80W gear oil for lubrication!

Thoughts on a steering rack | FerrariChat

Regards,
Gordon

 

Had I checked the owner’s manual I would have seen that it called for SAE 90 and finding the oil wouldn’t have been a surprise. I’ve discovered a number of threads in the meantime and seems like mine is a typical failure of the original rack, not at all unexpected. I’m weighing out the options of replacing the bushing and refilling with oil vs. replacing the rack with a new unit. New racks appear to be readily available and not too costly but it sounds like none of them are terrific. Research continues. Thanks for your reply!

 

Myself and lots of other FChat members have installed the following rack.

https://ebay.us/m/oEG8zk

It is a perfect fit and performs flawlessly!

Unfortunately, you are a couple years late as these previously went for $200!

 

Wow they really raised the price on that! Yep this is the one I have in my car... install was perfect, exactly like OEM.