Steering rack maintenance is there anything I should be periodically doing ? I had the inspection panel off recently. what’s behind those two plates ? Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The top image: basically, adjustment shims. Lower image: can't tell what exactly this is a photo of. Is that the evaporator drain tube?
If you are in there, you might consider replacing the 8 bushings that mount the rack to the frame with something stiffer. Do a search. A few of us have switched to acetal.
I do like it, but I've never driven a 308 without one. (So, cannot objectively say how much/if I prefer it.)
The shims can be purchased from Superformance. Not sure of the exact procedure for proper shimming procedure. Maybe someone can advise?
These racks are install and forget items. There are no regular maintenance other than … 1) If the boots crack, replace them. 2) If there is a leak, rebuild the rack. 3) If there are binding issues, replace the rack. The changing of the shims is done at the time or rebuild or at the factory. You really don't need to or should even mess with it.
Disassembly and reassembly/rebuilding the rack is also necessary if you want to install the fast ratio rack/pinion internals from Superformance. I don't believe anybody sells a fast ratio assembled rack?
That would be true, but that is not regular maintenance. You are essentially building a different rack. The shims affect the effort it takes to turn the steering knob. There is probably a spec, or adjust by feel for someone who has done a hundred of these.
I'd done shim adjustments on mine. Perhaps I shouldn't, but I've gone from a car that was incredibly difficult to turn to one that's completely manageable. Preload, in my opinion, was set far too high. (I'll note for the record that the original install of my rack was completely, utterly screwed up by another mechanic.)