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Topic: Recon steering racks....beware !! (Read 2078 times) |
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
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Recon steering racks....beware !!
« on: Oct 31st, 2007, 12:20am » |
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I replaced my steering rack 9 months ago with a recon unit (£169) from local motor factors.
Had a problem recently with tramlining, which has got progressively worse, to the point that even the smallest bump in the road at low speed would make the car want to suddenly steer into the kerb, or worse still, into on-coming traffic 
Jacked the front of the car up & on grabbing the front of the N/S/F wheel there was some lateral movement & you could see the track rod moving.
Sqeezing the gaiter & feeling the track rod ball joint inside, it was evident that the track rod was the only part doing the movement & not the rest of the rack....also no movement from steering wheel 
So it appears the N/S/F track rod inner ball joint has failed after only 9 months
It came with a one year warantee, so should get a free replacement, but gonna get a second opinion on it tomorrow from my local garage & get it written down on their headed paper, as proof that it has failed 
I've heard that recon racks are never really completely overhauled...just faulty parts replaced. But you'd think that they would make sure that the track rods were new & greased up properly....wouldn't you ? 
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Simmo
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #1 on: Oct 31st, 2007, 7:30am » |
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JC. Good luck with your mission. Just a point to consider. IF the correct procedure is followed when a new rack is fitted the entire system is flushed through to remove any trace of dirt and rubbish which is inevitably in the pump and other areas after thousands of miles. This requires specialist equipment and,I guess, in most cases doesn't get done certainly not on a DIY basis. The re-manufacturers could say that ' on examination it was found that there were signs of 'contaminated' fluid in the system which contributed to the failure'. Just be prepared.  Mike
THIS article may help and talks about contamination.
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Jonnycab
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Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #2 on: Oct 31st, 2007, 10:48am » |
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Hi Mike...I did flush the system through before with clean fluid, so if there is any contamination in there then it should be minimal....besides, the ball joint doesn't come into contact with the fluid, so they shouldn't be able to argue this point
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joe-satch
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joe satriani is the best guitarist in the world.
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #3 on: Oct 31st, 2007, 1:09pm » |
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quite righ jc,hope you get is sorted,in fact i have replaced a few steering arms/ball joints on mk2 and mk3 granadas..they was about £30 per side,non ajustable type,anyway good luck.den.
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #4 on: Oct 31st, 2007, 2:51pm » |
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The local garage have confirmed that there is excessive play in the N/S/F rack assembly, most probably ball joint worn to excess & have given me the proof in writing
Went straight to the shop where I bought it & they said no problem, will get a new rack in tommorow morning & as it is under warantee, it shouldn't cost me a penny 
I wonder if they'll chuck in a litre of Dexron II & pay for the tracking to be re-done as well 
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Simmo
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #5 on: Oct 31st, 2007, 4:36pm » |
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Well done JC, Suggest that you write to the re-manufacturer and talk about a 'good will payment'!!. As for the 'inventive' Tompion you should come to a Kent meet and see the various 'mods'on his car to say nothing of course of his work on the ABS system!!. Mike.
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Tompion
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1997 2.3 Ultima estate.
Posts: 2918
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #6 on: Oct 31st, 2007, 7:36pm » |
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Hi Mike
Think my car’s come out in sympathy with jonnycab's, finally got round to having new tyres & in the process found I have the same fault with the N/S rack ball joint. I’ve just had a look under the gaiters & it’s spotless both sides so I’ll just replace the track rod end.
jonnycab - I wonder if that’s what the low speed suspension creak was we had earlier in the year?
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Jonnycab
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Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #7 on: Nov 1st, 2007, 12:29am » |
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Quote "jonnycab - I wonder if that’s what the low speed suspension creak was we had earlier in the year? "
I seem to remember (few months back now) that it was down to a problem with the anti roll bar bushes & was rectified with a good spray of teflon lubricant
I've had no creeking since, but have had a very faint clonk when the N/S/F wheel has hit a small hole etc......which probably was the track rod inner ball joint on it's way out
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Simmo
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #8 on: Nov 1st, 2007, 10:19am » |
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Hi Dave, sorry to learn about your problem. I take it you have read the link I put up for JC. Good luck with the repair. Mike.
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Jonnycab
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Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #9 on: Nov 1st, 2007, 7:27pm » |
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Picked up the new rack today & no money changed hands, fitted it & took the old rack back to the shop....& again, no money changed hands
The guy in the shop said he would even forget to mention to the manufacturer that it had actually been in a taxi, as some part manufacturers get a bit funny about this kind of thing ......
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Simmo
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #10 on: Nov 1st, 2007, 7:37pm » |
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Well done JC. Looks like it's your turn for some luck!!  Mike.
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Tompion
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1997 2.3 Ultima estate.
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #11 on: Nov 1st, 2007, 11:42pm » |
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on Nov 1st, 2007, 10:19am, Simmo wrote:| Hi Dave, sorry to learn about your problem. I take it you have read the link I put up for JC. Good luck with the repair. Mike. |
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Yes, thanks Mike - just need some idiot to fit it - oh that'll be me then 
Dave
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #12 on: Nov 2nd, 2007, 12:01am » |
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on Nov 1st, 2007, 11:42pm, Tompion wrote:
Yes, thanks Mike - just need some idiot to fit it - oh that'll be me then
Dave
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.....Better the devil you know .......
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howiedintheplace
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Based near Evesham
Posts: 1194
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #13 on: Nov 2nd, 2007, 4:22am » |
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You do know that re-con racks are just old racks with new seals & a bit of paint on them
These companies get them off ebay etc.
I have sold a few to recon firms.
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Dave
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pete from Hull
Senior Member
Non Scorpio at the moment, but still interested...
Posts: 1365
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #14 on: Nov 2nd, 2007, 7:09am » |
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I agree with howiedintheplace
When I got mine from our VERY reliable parts dealership, they told me to only settle for RE-MANUFACTURED parts especially Steering racks because of this very problem. There are so many out there doing exactly this.
They said that remanufactured goes through a process which completely replaces mating surfaces by machining out and fitting bushes etc, they say that a re-manufactured part can be actually better than a oem part, I can certainly see the sense in this and have never had a problem with the rack I fitted originally on my 2ltr car and which I then removed and refitted on my current car. It is probably about 2 years old now.
It has to be pointed out though that it is adviseable to only deal with reputable companies when buying replacement parts. Any company worth it's salt would only supply good quality equipment, usually backed up by a good warranty.
The company I use, Waterloo Engineering in Hull have been supplying parts since Adam was a lad, and Henry Ford was his apprentice, they are original motor engineers where everybody round here send engines, cyclinder heads etc for repair so I am allways confident when shopping there.
hth
Pete
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Simmo
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #15 on: Nov 2nd, 2007, 8:52am » |
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THIS firm are a major supplier of RE-MANUFACTURED racks.
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pete from Hull
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Non Scorpio at the moment, but still interested...
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #16 on: Nov 2nd, 2007, 9:13am » |
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on Nov 2nd, 2007, 8:52am, Simmo wrote:| THIS firm are a major supplier of RE-MANUFACTURED racks. |
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I am pretty sure this is the co who supplied mine through Waterloo eng. All worked to BS standards....
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #17 on: Nov 4th, 2007, 4:19pm » |
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Guess what !! .........that brand new recon rack that I fitted only three days ago is shot
It didn't feel right as soon as I put it in & had it tracked. The car is feeling rather unsteady over uneven surfaces still & has also developed a clonk 
I've checked everything in the front suspension & there is no play anywhere or clonking !!
But when grabbing the steering linkage & turning it I can hear a clonk inside the actual rack casing
Just been down to the garage & they've had a look.
I've now got another sheet of headed paper from the garage confirming that there is excess play in the new steering rack
Mike.....what was that about my luck changing ?
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Scorpio_Mike
Senior Member
Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 & 2.8 Sierra XR4i 4x4
Posts: 2354
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #18 on: Nov 4th, 2007, 4:24pm » |
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www.buypartsby.co.uk :
Vehicle Year Range Type Part No Cost Notes
SCORPIO 2.0 2.3 2.5D 94> POWER APR1164 £87.51 + v.a.t
SCORPIO 2.9 V6 24v COSWORTH 94> POWER APR1166 £87.51 + v.a.t c/w Speed Sensor
Please Note : All Steering Racks Are Sold On An Exchange Basis, A Surcharge Of £50.00 Will Be Added To All Orders. A Full Refund Will Be Issued When The Old Unit Is Collected/Returned To Us.
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Simmo
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Re: Recon steering racks....beware !!
« Reply #19 on: Nov 4th, 2007, 9:41pm » |
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JC !!. To quote Victor Meldrew..."I don't belieeeeeeve it !!!" Where are these things coming from ?. Have you checked the link I put up at reply 15 ?. Surely there must be some goodwill payment this time if it is the same firm which supplied both racks. . Keep us up-dated, Mike.
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