quote:Originally posted by Robbie:
Sometimes rebuilding the original but putting in the bronze bushing is the best way to assure it is quality. I get nervous whenever China is in the manufacturing discussion.
I understand, and if that is the only thing wrong that is probably the right thing to do. Be sure to check for free play between the pinion and rack motion. This is probably best done by observing the motion of the input U-joint relative to the rack motion. Doing it by steering wheel has problems with linkage play but if you remove the driver side wheel and put a vice grip on the input to the rack, you should be able to detect whether there is a significant dead zone. I'm not sure how large an angle "significant" is. Anyone care to offer an opinion?
There certainly are some less than great performance parts coming out of China, and probably some very good stuff too. But rack and pinion steering gear is not rocket science. Back in the 60s and 70s when it was starting to get widely adopted, it might have been. As an ME who worked in Aerospace for 35 years my guess is that, with modern manufacturing equipment and practices, today's R & P steering gear made in China is as good or better than what was made in England in the 70's. BTW, back in the day there was at least one report I recall in which someone's Pantera rack "locked up".