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Hi guys. Long time no see. Life has been busy as always. I still have my medium green and recently I bought 72 and Im puzzled about my steering rack.

Steering rack has a play of about inch or more. Especially on the right side. I took the rack out and everything was looking ok. There is almost brand new bronze bushing. All the tooth was good and pinion looked very good. Only thing I can think that gives a play is a pinion.
When I took the pinion out there is quite thick washer inside and the other end comes with bearing and about 3mm of washers. Still there is about 5mm posibility for pinion to move inside. So is there some more washers missing from inside or should there be play??
When I look the steering rack in place and turn the wheel I can see the pinion is rising that 5mm. That will surely raise over one teeth and give a huge play at the other end.
What am I missing from inside?
Another question about original brake master cylinders is there any rubbers available?
Best regards from Finland
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Excellent company in the UK called Kiley Clinton who service steering racks from many classics, www.steering-racks.co.uk. If you have no luck repairing the rack yourself send it there, they will definitely be able to help.

They overhauled my rack last year and did a great job and very reasonable.

If your rack is an old Cam Gears rack like mine they confirmed that spec was originally fitted to a 70s British car called an Austin Allegro. Also fits Ferrari 308, 246 etc
quote:
Originally posted by Morion:
Hi guys. Long time no see. Life has been busy as always. I still have my medium green and recently I bought 72 and Im puzzled about my steering rack.

Steering rack has a play of about inch or more. Especially on the right side. I took the rack out and everything was looking ok. There is almost brand new bronze bushing. All the tooth was good and pinion looked very good. Only thing I can think that gives a play is a pinion.
When I took the pinion out there is quite thick washer inside and the other end comes with bearing and about 3mm of washers. Still there is about 5mm posibility for pinion to move inside. So is there some more washers missing from inside or should there be play??
When I look the steering rack in place and turn the wheel I can see the pinion is rising that 5mm. That will surely raise over one teeth and give a huge play at the other end.
What am I missing from inside?
Another question about original brake master cylinders is there any rubbers available?
Best regards from Finland


This article on the rack rebuild by Mike Drew might be helpful. http://www.panteraplace.com/page203.htm

Mike
I had a similar problem, but on top of the play, my gear was jumping the rack, and my column connections were "spinning" on the splines.

I took all the spacers out (yeah, it's a lot harder to turn the wheel) to make the steering tight....however there is absolutely no play. I took all the steering column pieces apart, cleaned them and replaced the older units with newer, better condition parts.

Nothing worse than driving along the road, a loud "pop" and I can't control the vehicle.
It should be a case of shimming the pinion with the correct thickness of spacers/shims until it has minimal play, but not so tight that it is hard to turn the steering wheel, which should self center when driving down the road or it is dangerous.

There is a cheap Chinese offering of a replacement Ferrari 308 rack that many have used with success. It requires a small modification where the clamps bolt one side to widen the clamping surface.

Julian

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