19 replies to this topic

[Adam]

Long story short. I stripped one of the ports on my steering rack.

I have another rack and the body of the pinion gear looks the same. Is it a simple matter of switching them over?

Anyone pulled one apart before? Do I just undo the socked heads and lines and pull?

[RX25SE]

Should be able to Adam.

 

Around the outside of the pinion shaft is the rotary control valve, this has a series of radial teflon seals that seal against the inside of the housing. Make sure you don't damage these seals when you fit the other housing, lubricate the seals with some petroleum jelly or auto trans/ steer fluid to help it all slip back together.

 

I'm not sure how the pinion bearing preload is set without looking, but it will either be using and adjusting nut and lock nut at the base of the pinion (on the rack body) or it will use shims between the rotary valve housing (the bit you forked when you did up the pipes. ) and the rack body. When you have it all back together, make sure it has no freeplay and is not binding in the the straight ahead position.

 

Pic would be handy.

[Adam]

Thanks, Jase. I'll get some pics tonight. I couldn't get the housing to come away from the rack last night so I packed it in. Surprised there's not much info on the Web about this sort of thing!

[RX25SE]

Rack overhauls are normally specialised work. Even buying parts is hard, its like the entire industry is locked down.

You may need to pull the pinion out with the housing as there may be a circlip keeping it together.

[Reevesy]

Rob did the same thing on his quick rack. But he got the port fixed , I assume by tapping out to a larger size.

[Adam]

He had a fitting fitted in there and the lines modified. I don't want to spend more money on it at this stage. So if I can make 2 from one that's my first choice.

If I can't make 2 from one the leaky rack is going back in un powered for now and I'll just have to start drinking protein shakes

[RX25SE]

Dont fit the rack and run it unpowered. You will fork the column and probably the rack. Remember the fluid is also the lubricant.

[Adam]

K

[RX25SE]

Just had a look at the GenIII manual and assuming GenII is similar, there is an internal nut under the dust seal at the top of the pinion shaft. One this nut is removed (using ST 34199AE090 PLUG WRENCH ) the pinion/control valve should come free then you can remove the valve housing.

 

If the two racks are different ratios, then the pinion gear needs to remain with the rack as they will probably be different diameters.

[Adam]

I actually managed to get them apart yesterday. Just needed to pull.

The pinion gear is different. Even though they are both 2.7 racks. So I've just got home with circlip pliers and it's time to get it done hopefully

[Adam]

Nope. Off to the experts tomorrow.

[RX25SE]

Bugga

[bigBADbenny]

Look up steering rack rebuild or depowering threads, there's one on nasioc and plenty on the 888 forums.

[Adam]

I just can't separate the pinion housing from the pinion gear. It looks like there's a pin pressed into it but I can't get it out. It's fricken tight

[RX25SE]

That may be the torsion bar pin (shown in red) and if so, don't try and remove it. The torsion bar allows the top part of the pinion to move axially and separate to the pinion gear so the correct hydraulic ports can open.

 

 

 

 

Have you got the dust seal off the top of the pinion housing? Is there a nut or circlip in there? (I assume you have the pinion out of the rack but it is still in the pinion housing. Pinion should come out through the bottom of the housing.

 

Pics?

[Adam]

I have got it out of the rack. I'll make sure I get pics tonight. Yes I mean the torsion bar

Nothing under the dust boot. There's only one circlip that let nothing move.

[RX25SE]

Just to be 100% sure: 

• You have the pinion shaft and the housing removed from the rack body.
• You can't get the pinion gear out of the pinion housing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pity this didn't happen three weeks ago, I was up the road from yours.

[Adam]

Here's some pics. Took the circlip off again and tried a bit of caveman action on the shaft I didn't want. The bearing moved but not all the way off. I think i just need to give it to someone with the right tools Gave it a go at least.

 

[RX25SE]

Looks like the pinion should tap out. Can't imagine the teflon seals are that tight.

 

Bottom pic, the pinion in the foreground looks like it still has the circlip in place?

[Adam]

There's no circlip there which is what confuses me. The circlip was above that bearing on the top pic. I got the bearing to move down the shaft a bit. No sure what happens once the bearing comes off though lol.