Rebuild power steering rack, anyone done it?

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 8:53 pm

Ive scored myself an L series power-steering rack, but it has torn boots and possibly has had lots of kms on it. Before I whack it in the RX, I wanna rebuild it.
Ive seen kits for about $60.00US and if it is gonna be easy, I'll have a hash at it myself. $75 rack and $60 kit is a lot cheaper than the $400 rebuilt exchange racks available.

So has anyone attempted it before?

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 12:51 am

No but I'd be keen to see how it's done. I don't know how you'd go repairing a worn rack and pinion though, I'd imagine if they're that worn out the unit would be cactus.

Boots and rack ends should be easy to do, I've got rack ends to replace the current ones on Ruby Scoo as they've got some play in them. I believe Steptoe has just done this job earlier this year.

Cheers

Bennie

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 6:34 pm

God parts wreckers are rip off merchants!!! I dropped in today to pick up the rack and noticed that it didnt have the steering uni joint on it. I asked and they said it was a separate part but I could have one for $35, I only paid $75 for the rack.

Well when I got home, I pulled the torn boots off the rack to discover it is in pretty good nick.

The ball joints seem tight and there is no oil leaking out the end seals.

So I attempted to put new boots on and struck a pothole.....

I cant get the tie rod ends off. Is there a trick cos i have even had them in a vice and really swung on the spanner and it wont budge. Its like somebody has done the lock nuts up too tight.

Post by **Alex** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 7:01 pm

They should crack easy. You're talking about the outer rack ends with the balljoints? Wd40 them good. I used two shifters to undo mine turning them the opposite way to each other. Otherwise hit the shifter or spanner with a nice heavy steel mallot?

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steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:27 pm

CRC556 and overnight soak is my friend, and you do wonder how strong the gorilla is in that wheel align pit!!

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:30 pm

An option is to find someone with the stretch boots and gun that goes over the tie rod ends. Turner enterprises in Sydney may be able to direct you to someone close as they are the main distributors

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:33 pm

http://www.turnerdriveshafts.com.au/gurantee.htm

http://www.turnerdriveshafts.com.au/prd_duragun.html

pretty sure another system is out there for using a cone and silicone sparay with stretch boots too

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:42 pm

All you need is a 14mm, and maybe either a 17 or 19mm spanner to crack the tie rod from the rack end.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:47 pm

Crack easy, I had em in a vice and was really swingin on the spanner, I even tried tapping the spanner with a hammer.

Jono, the problem is that the ends have to come off and be replaced by MY ends because I have Liberty front hubs?

I'll go out and give em a spray with INOX and have another swing on em tomorrow.

mrflibbles · Post by **mrflibbles** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:52 pm

a bit of heat on them might help too.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 11:11 pm

Aha! dats good stuff too!