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        General >> Problems >> Another steering rack problem ?
        
(Message started by: jonnycab on Feb 7^th, 2008, 3:02am)

Title: Another steering rack problem ?
Post by jonnycab on Feb 7^th, 2008, 3:02am

Does anyone remember the grief I had with dodgy recon steering racks late last year ?....well it seems that the saga may not be over yet ::).....the Scorp has developed handling problems & I'm thinking it's the rack....again ???

Basically, when driving along straight, if one of the tyres hits a bump or dip in the road the steering seems to veer off....it's alot worse on really bad roads as the steering wants to constantly veer left to right as it hits the many bumps & dips in the road surface ???

I find myself having to keep an iron grip on the steering wheel whenever I hit a bad surface....it helps, but not alot :(

The front wheels seem to veer off literally a nano-second before it's felt through the steering, so steering jerks at just about the same time as the front wheels change direction....but there is no noticable free play in the steering :-/

I've checked the following........

The wishbone bushes are fine & show normal flexabilty & the ball joints are still tight & well greased in thier sockets.....both wishbones were new just under a year ago.

No problems with front wheel bearings.

Recently new drop links & anti-roll bar bushes.

Track rod ends are only a few months old & move as they should in thier sockets & the track rod ball joints inside the gaiters are tight.

The steering rack mounting bolts are tightened up properly & there is no movement of the rack that could cause 'bump steer'.

The shocks pass the bounce test with flying colours.
I even replaced the strut mounts & bearing rings last week (they were creaking), but that hasn't cured the problem either :(
Obviously when I changed the mounts & bearing rings I was able to check the condition of the springs & shocks & all was fine in that department :)

So after all this, I'm thinking that maybe it's those worn out budget tyres that are causing the problem. So rang around to get some quotes & managed to get a matching pair of very good part worn Michelin Primacys with 6mm tread for £30 a piece...

....Guess what, the problem is now worse :o.....it seems the superior grip of the Michelins has made the problem worse >:(

Back to my original theory that the new (recon) rack may be the culprit. There is also a strange clunking coming from the nearside front when going over rough surfaces...the same clunk I had on my two previous recon racks....hmmmm ::)

When hitting the track rod with the palm of my hand the clunk can be heard coming from inside the steering rack, or at least where the shaft enters the rack housing. On removing the track rod end from the hub & moving the track rod up & down & side to side to it's full limits I can hear the same clunk......so possibly a worn bearing in the rack housing :-/........

.....I may be wrong :-/, but it seems obvious, that the clunking recon rack (& the others before) have not been re-manufactured thoroughly or properly & that all the parts used are not the same spec as the original manufacturers parts ::)

If the rack does turn out to be the culprit, then I don't think I'll shop around for another recon. I may as well buy a second hand original Ford rack from the breakers & take my chances..........or unless anyone on here has one that they know is good ;)

Sorry for the really long post, but I felt I had to explain everything in detail as it's it's really bugging me >:(....... :)

P.S.... found this on 'Youtube' which is the exact sound that I have coming from the N/S of the rack....although his is worse, he only has to tap the gaiter for it to knock........happy listening ;)

....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuLvoYXunJU&feature=related

Update.......from googling this problem, it seems there is a bronze bearing inside the rack casing that tends to wear after time & cause this kind of knock....but it was supposed to be remanufactured ???

Title: Re: Another steering rack problem ?
Post by Simmo on Feb 7^th, 2008, 8:15am

As my idol Victor Meldrew would say "I don't belieeeeeve It"!!!. All I can suggest Jon is that you go for one from THIS firm (http://www.amkauto.co.uk/) or someone like them. I have a feeling I put up their site previously on one of your threads. They supply here through a firm of motor factors called CPA. If you do go the breakers route Bridges at Crawley may be able to help you. Pity you didn't visit with Talban and me on Monday !!!. We could have salvaged more of the car!!. Good luck, Mike.

Title: Re: Another steering rack problem ?
Post by Daven on Feb 7^th, 2008, 8:38am

I think the re-con racks are a false economy, you may be lucky to get a good one but after having replace two in 14 months I bought a brand new one from fordpartsuk - ok it cost £400 but that was 3 years ago and it's still fine!

Dave

Title: Re: Another steering rack problem ?
Post by jonnycab on Feb 7^th, 2008, 12:17pm

Hi Mike, the latest rack fitted is an AMK rack, which is supposed to be one of the better re-manufactured ones. But it is now starting to seem that they are no more reliable than other cheaper ones :-/

Title: Re: Another steering rack problem ?
Post by Highlander on Feb 7^th, 2008, 3:52pm

You must be unlucky Jonny ;D

I've only bought one recon rack from www.buypartsby.co.uk and its been going three years with no probs

Title: Re: Another steering rack problem ?
Post by Simmo on Feb 7^th, 2008, 4:29pm

Jon. Have a read of your PM's. Mike.

Title: Re: Another steering rack problem ?
Post by jonnycab on Feb 8^th, 2008, 1:14am

Bought a second hand original Ford rack today & it seems solid enough....no apparent play in pinion & inner ball joints seem solid enough, so will throw it in & see what happens ;)

Title: Re: Another steering rack problem ?
Post by jonnycab on Feb 9^th, 2008, 12:56am

New rack in & it feels great, no more clonking from inside the rack & it feels super smooth, unlike the old recon one which had tight spots in the pinion at about 30 degrees either side of centre.

Unfortunately, it hasn't cured the problem with handling :(.....so it's not the rack then.....hmmm ???

So what is it that is causing the bad handling ?.......I'm starting to wonder whether one or both of the (one year old) wishbones is causing the problem :-/
I replaced the big rear bushes recently, so it can't be those. I'm wondering whether the front bushes may be at fault :-/.....They were correctly torqued with the vehicle on the ground & the centre sleeve is definately still attached to the rubber surrounding. I know this because I took them off, placed a large nut & bolt through the sleeve, tightened it up & then tried to turn the bolt with a breaker bar & it only flexed & didn't turn.

There is no knocking or graunching from the bushes, but is it possible that the rubber bush can start to give more than it should...i.e..soften up, in such a short time & cause lateral movement in the wheel(s) that causes the steering to veer when hitting bumps, dips & ruts on uneven roads ? :-/

I'll have to get under there again tomorrow with a really big crowbar & give 'em a really good workout :)

....talk about things that do your head in ::)

Title: Re: Another steering rack problem ?
Post by scorpio_man on Feb 9^th, 2008, 6:38pm

hi jc

no flat spots on the wheels? alignment ok using a 4 wheel tacker?

hth

Title: Re: Another steering rack problem ?
Post by jonnycab on Feb 9^th, 2008, 6:58pm

Well, I checked the wishbone bushes & they're rock solid, so that's another theory out the window ::)

Anyway, the problem is now sorted & the solution was pretty simple......Tyres !! :-[

On looking closely at the part worn Michelins, I noticed that there didn't seem to be any curvature of the tyres across the tread, only at the edges....the tyres just go straight across, so possibly the previous owner had the pressures a little too high :-/

Being that I'd already tried putting the rear (coming to the end of their life budgets) tyres on before & it didn't make much difference, I decided to stick the Michelins on the rear & replace the budgets for brand new tyres.

It seems to have done the trick & the flattened off Michelins seem fine on the rear 8)