[Mk2] [Turbo] Told tracking couldnt be adjusted after new rack fitted, urgent ad

[davidmit]

Worst situation after working on a car

Due to my play in the steering I thought I'd finally sort it out so bought a steering rack from a chap on ebay and had it conconditioned at western power steering. Bought some new track rod ends to go with it from camskill.

Took off the old one, put on all the new bits and all seemed fine, but I took to to the nearest tyre place to get the tracking sorted out. (ive had 4 wheel geometry done previously but as I only have played with from wheels, figure only they need doing)

After working on it for 20 minutes the chap at the garage comes out and tells me that it couldn't be adjusted, and after finding the centre (number of turns from full lock to full lock / 2) one wheel would be straight, but the other track rod would come off the rack before the other wheel was straight. The chap at the tyre place thought I must have the wrong rack fitted and to take it back to whoever fitted it ( didn't tell him I did it) Does anyone know what I may have done wrong? Have I just wasted 170 pounds getting the wrong rack reconditioned? (Do turbos and non turbos have different racks?)

Any advice welcome?

[^Trickster^]

Did you compare the racks when you removed yours to see if there was any differences?

Graeme

[davidmit]

Not as much car as I should have, I had them next to each other and they looked identical.

I'll have a compare tomorrow, I'm hoping that the chap at the garage didn't know what he was doing. I'll take it in to qwik-fit tomorrow and see if they say the same thing.

[bobhatton]

My son had the same problems when he changed from a power steering rack to a non power one. We just set the tracking up with the steering wheel not the same number of turns lock to lock, so say left may be 2 turns to the stop and right may be 2.5 turns but its been like that now for a year and no problems at all.

Bob

[davidmit]

That's what I had intended to do today Bob. Good to know somebody else has run into this, not just me. Thanks

[bobhatton]

One day we will find out why it is like this but as its working ok its not top of the list of things to do.

Bob

[2tmike]

Hi,
I changed mine a few weeks ago....maybe this will help
A good start point is to get a reference measurement from the old rack if you've still got it ?
Measure as accurately as you can how far each track rod end is screwed onto its control arm - or carefully unscrew each one and count the turns as you unscrew. The take an average of both ends and set the new rack up to this measurement. Then disconnect the steering column from the rack, set the wheel in straight ahead and fix it in position - tape a bit of wood across and to the handbrake lever or something. Then set the wheels to straight ahead by eye and reattach the column . You should have a reasonable start point for tracking from there on. Mine was within 1/2 deg of factory settings this way.....and as far as I can see all the PS racks and track rod ends are the same ?

[JOHNM400]

As above really. When i changed mine i was worried about this happening so best way is with the new rack and old rack side by side set the track rod ends on the new rack so they look as near as possible the same length as the old one. Put the rack on the car and replace the road wheels but do not connect the steering column universal joint up yet. Turn the splined shaft on the rack until the wheels look straight or put a dab of paint on the splined shaft and turn from one full lock to the other and count the number of turns then divide by 2. Say you get 3 for example put the rack on full lock one way then turn the splined shaft back 3 turns. That should put the rack pretty much central. Make sure the steering wheel is set to straight position and attach the universal joint to the splined shaft and job done.

The guy who did the tracking only needed to turn the steering one way or the other to find the racks centre position and totally reset both track rod ends then centre the steering wheel. I cant understand why hes having so much trouble. Sounds like hes not prepared to do the little extra work involved.

[honda_crf_04]

how do you know when the rack needs replacing?i have had mine checked out by the local tyre shop,and they said it had slight play is this normal?

[davidmit]

Yes, I took it to protyre and they sorted it for me no trouble at all.

I think most tyre places dont have mechanics just 'fitters' so they are not hugely competent.

Honda_crf, when I had the left wheel off the ground and grabbed the wheel and wiggled. Play in mine was quite obvious, still havent solved my vibration though.