Rack going bad?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,749
Likes: 776
From: Dadeville AL
Rack going bad?
I've begun to notice free play in the steering wheel. The steering wheel and everything down to the steering rack will turn about half an inch at the steering wheel before the rack begins to move the steering rods. Does this sound like the rack is going bad? Is there an adjustment that can correct the problem?
P.S. The rack is from an 87 Corvette in a Cobra replica.
P.S. The rack is from an 87 Corvette in a Cobra replica.
Last edited by kellsdad; Jan 14, 2006 at 08:50 PM.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 456
Likes: 3
From: Sumner Texas
It's certainly POSSIBLE that the rack is getting loose, but that is not typically how they fail. I would expect to find the play either in a coupling between the steering wheel and the rack input shaft OR in the tie rod ends.
It's time to do the 4 P's. Push, Pull, Pry and Prod. Start wiggling and shaking everything until you find the culprit.
Good luck,
It's time to do the 4 P's. Push, Pull, Pry and Prod. Start wiggling and shaking everything until you find the culprit.
Good luck,
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,749
Likes: 776
From: Dadeville AL
Thanks for the comments. This is my track car so I'm pretty cautious about anything regarding steering or brakes. I figure this is the original 20 year old rack from the donor car used to build this Cobra, so I've decided to replace it just for peace of mind.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 772
Likes: 6
From: Huntsville AL
I have the same problem. Input shaft turns w/ the steering wheel but there is about 5 to 10 degrees or so of slop back and forth. The output does not move w/ this slop.
Let us know if swapping the rack fixes it.
Let us know if swapping the rack fixes it.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,749
Likes: 776
From: Dadeville AL
OK. The rebuilt rack is in and it did eliminate the free play in the steering. While preparing to install the new rack I discovered there is an adjustment that might have helped the old rack. I didn't try it so I don't know what effect it would have had. ... One item of information I needed but couldn't find elsewhere regards the tie rods. In order to adjust the toe in I had to rotate the tie rod to move the tie rod end in or out. There are no flat surfaces on the rod for a wrench to make it clear it is supposed to be turned. Ultimately, I grabbed the rod with my ViceGrips and it turned easily.
