steering rack leaking rubber boots

I got mine from Superformance a few years ago. Recently I fitted their quick steering rack and the boots were still like new. However I think originally the steering rack is supposed to be filled with oil, mine had grease in it. I cleaned the old grease and filled with the white lithium grease.

 

The boots are designed to protect the seals and shafts of the steering rack. The boots do not retain the fluid and seal your rack. Your problem is deeper. Probably the rack seals underneath the boots. A more extensive repair than just the boots.

 

gsjohnson is correct, the rubber boot is not to contain the fluids, sounds like your steering rack is leaking. You should get that replaced or looked at before replacing another rubber boot.

Usually the power steering fluid will eat through the rubber boot and cause it crack.
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LOL! that's funny. And here I thought all steering racks are the same. Thanks for your education.

 

Ferrari steering racks are unique in their construction, but similar in many aspects to other manual racks.

1.)Ferrari racks used 80 W oil, and 000 Grease (not to be confused with 0 grease), basically the same products with the addition of lithium soap binders to thicken the grease. Later racks used Grease simply because it didn’t leak out quite as soon. As greases ages, it never forgets where it came from and ends up back at 80 w and can eventually leak out.

2.)The boots are designed not only to keep moisture and debris out, but also to push the lubrication from one side of the rack to the other, that’s how the internal components (spherical joint, bearings, pinion, and bushing etc.) in the “Rack” are lubricated. If the boots are comprised, contamination will wear and corrode the components, and as the rack is pushed in and out, the boot will squirt oil on the floor.

Depending on what style rack you have (TRW / Cam Gears); I have OE boots, Inner Tie rods, and rebuild kits in stock if you want to go that far into it. PM if you want to explore this option.

If you would prefer to bolt a completed assembly in rather than mess with it, I have a few rebuild racks in stock.

 

Good point! Great explanation! Just wondering if you have anything for 348s? Not sure if you are a business or have a website (checked your profile). Thanks!

 

Another Ferrari education (of many) that I have received.

 

FandLcars,

A local member needs his 348 rack rebuilt, but has been focused on tying the knot, the F car has taken a back seat to the girl. The goal is to create a rebuild kit, for the 348, but have not located a donor rack yet for parts sourcing.

What I can tell you is; the 348 rack is similar to the Cam Gears design used in the 328, and therefore many of the rebuild components I stock.

I can not take credit for 96% of David’s (fastradio) 365 BB suspension work; but we did custom build a rack for him as well as other NLA suspension components. Check out his work here;

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=185783

His attention to every miniscule detail is absolutely remarkable even by concourse standards.

 

Martin,

If you have a later 308, you most likely have the same boot on both sides of the rack, unless the rack has been changed (TRW = different boots, Cam Gears = same boot both sides). Later style racks used 000 BP grease (it’s NLA). The best currently available substitute is Shell Alvania 00 which can be purchased in a minimum quantity of 5 gals (I also stock 8oz squeeze bottles of Alvania). My personal opinion is grease / oil goes bad after about 10 years (it is a petroleum product), so the oil in your rack most likely needs to be replaced anyways. In order to complete this job properly, the rack should be removed so you can clean all the old material out of the bearings Etc... That’s also a good time to inspect the rack, and replace / repair anything which is out of spec. The rack is often the most overlooked part of Ferrari ownership (out of site = out of mind), but is what keeps us out of the mulberry bushes.

 

My experience with anything rubber that was manufactured or spec built in Italy is not good. Virtually every one of our cars with 10 year old suspension rubber are starting to show signs of deterioration, the boots are no exception. There is no way to tell now, but I suppose it’s possible they sold some old stock, inventory which was not rotated properly. It’s also possible the boot was pinched between the Housing and the Spherical joint when turned to hard lock. I’m not sure how this would happen with OE boots, but possible maybe.

Personally, I wouldn’t put 80w in a Ferrari steering rack, even though it was used extensively throughout the 70’s period. The pinion Gear has two Angular contact bearings on either end of the shaft, using oil the upper bearing has no method of being lubricated properly or continuously, elevated 3” higher than the oil level (maybe hitting a pot hole would jostle some up there). The other problem is how do you pour the oil in the rack, to top it off? On a Ferrari rack, you would need to remove the rack from the car, stand it on end, and pour the 80w in. With 000 grease, it’s as simple as cracking the large boot clamp, and squirting some in the boot, when you turn the rack the other direction, the grease will be transferred to the gear portion (assuming the boots are in good shape).

 

Hello

I need to rebuild the rack in my 308 and would like to get in touch with John H. JH355. John, if you read this or if ony one can direct me in the right direction (e-mail or tel or web address) could you please send me a e-mail at [email protected]
thanks, Andrea

 

John does great work.
Here's a photo of my Dino's steering rack that he rebuilt. Prior to the rack, I had the A-arms powedercoated elsewhere and he matched the finish and texture perfectly. I feel safe at 5mph, 50mph or whatever speed. You should see his facility, don't want to say too much but he has four Haas six-axis CNC machines for his use.
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Given the pain, when is the time to decide to fix a leaking rack?

I just changed my coolant and found the rack wet and coated with gunk

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