Hi all Hope to call on your experience to tell me what’s missing / what I might need to fix the excessive play on this steering rack ? It’s a lhd 1981 GTSi Thanks in advance Image Unavailable, Please Login Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
You may be missing that one bushing inside (bottom item in the pic) where the rod/rack slide back and forth and keeps the grease or oil from coming out. I just rebuilt mine not too long ago, it did had an excessive play also where I couldn’t have my front wheels align. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Maybe it’s worn out to the point that it’s disintegrated, how does the new bush fit it? I presume the track rod ends have to come off somehow ? Thanks Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
The steering rack is the same as used on a Pantera. This link is to a tutorial on rebuilding the rack, it's been around for probably decades and has become the "go to" article for rack rebuilds. http://www.panteraplace.com/page203.htm
All of the above. You will need 2 of those bushings (the Superformance website states that) and I can confirm that. I used Penrite Semi Fluid Grease to fill the rack with (https://www.penriteoil.com.au/products/semi-fluid-grease) Track rod ends. Remember that this is a steering rack shared with the mini. I bought track rod ends from a mini spares places and they were a fraction of the price of those offered by the usual suspects.
This is what I used, works really great, available at your local BMW dealership. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The original end play bushing was Delrin, or plastic.....I think the conventional wisdom is to replace it during rebuild with one machined of brass??? It will cause steering wheel shimmy, once gone...
Is there a known experienced shop which someone can recommend who can rebuild our steering racks to a high (OEM quality) standard?
call Dave at AW Italian in Eatontown, NJ, they rebuild your own or can sell a new one (I have not used this service however). 732-542-5600.