Ford Scorpio Forum - Print Page


    
      
        Ford Scorpio Forum
        (https://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl)
      

        General >> Problems >> Steering rack repair
        
(Message started by: Chad66 on Dec 17^th, 2004, 7:55pm)

Title: Steering rack repair
Post by Chad66 on Dec 17^th, 2004, 7:55pm

Ever started one of those jobs and wish you hadn't bothered??!!

I've spent most of today trying to change the steering rack and all I've got to show for it are some skinless knuckles.

1st question - should it be nigh impossible to loosen of the track rod end locknut whilst the rack is still on the car??....mine wont shift. Is there some technique that I don't know??

2nd question - I am wanting to change the connecting rods on my replacement rack as described in the main pages, but cant seem to be able to get a grip on them with molgrips and they seem very tightly welded to the actual rack. Again is there a technique to this??

Has anyone ever done this job successfully...HELP!

Title: Re: Steering rack repair
Post by gaz01gaz on Dec 17^th, 2004, 10:14pm

hi,i have recently replaced my rack (2.9 cos) actually quite an easy job (i am a moderate mechanic)the lock nuts should move? :-/ a little heat is always helpfull,if you are replacing the rack try a good set of stillson grips on the connecting rods but get as close to the join as possible,i may be wrong but think there will be nut lock used(loctite) when these are assembled >:(hope this helps,,,gaz

Title: Re: Steering rack repair
Post by Chad66 on Dec 17^th, 2004, 11:03pm

Cheers Gaz,

Never thought about giving it some heat..bu*ger!! ::) ::)

I'll try again...brute force and ignorance ought to do it...got plenty of both! ;D

Title: Re: Steering rack repair
Post by Paul B on Dec 18^th, 2004, 8:05am

Had the same 'problem' when changing my wishbones last year.

No heat - no movement (and a red face)
Applied heat - movement :)

Just be careful what you're heating!

Title: Re: Steering rack repair
Post by pustagris on Dec 18^th, 2004, 10:12am

As I understand it Chad is trying to change the racks leaving the track rod ends in the car.
After my humble opinion that is the wrong procedere.

Follow the instructions on http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/manual/steering/PASRack.pdf

and remove the old rack. Concerning the removal of the track rod ends, this is done by turning the ends itselfs-even if the lock nut is hardly moving. I think this removal is much easier to do with the rack outside the car.

Volker

Title: Re: Steering rack repair
Post by Chad66 on Dec 18^th, 2004, 10:30am

Thanks for the advice so far.

The full story is that I've got 2 racks on the go....one is on the car (the inner seals have gone) and thats the one where I'm trying to unlock the locknuts....

The other rack is a used one that I'm going to overhaul (but the inner seals are fine) before fitting by changing the con rods/track ends/gaiters etc...only problem is I can't get the existing rods of it!!

Theres a method in my madness ;D